It is unclear whether the leaked information will affect the ongoing war in Ukraine, whose naval component has receded amid heavy Russian Navy losses in the Black Sea.

On Sunday, Ukraine launched one of its largest ever drone attacks on Moscow, coinciding with the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections. The Kremlin acknowledged that more than 1,900 drones had been launched at Russia over the weekend, including hundreds towards the capital, but claimed it had countered most of the drones as well as cruise missiles, guided aerial bombs and rockets.

Kyiv has continued to strike Russia’s energy infrastructure and strategic energy sites, cutting deeply into Russian fuel production and prompting export restrictions. This has led to criticism from the Trump administration, which has suggested the strikes are tied to the high global prices of oil and gas (most analysts disagree).

However, Ukrainian forces haven’t just been striking physical sites. Another attack online could be even more significant, as Ukrainian hackers accessed a large volume of technical data for the Russian Navy’s warships.

“Operation Poseidon” Could Expose Russian Naval Secrets

The operation, dubbed “Poseidon,” was conducted by Ukrainian Militant, a hacker collective and cyber-intelligence group aligned with the Ukrainian government. The group continues to wage a cyber campaign against the Kremlin, collaborating with other state-run and volunteer units such as the 256th Cyber Assault Division and InformNapalm.

In this latest cyber operation, the hackers claimed to have obtained scientific, technical, design, and testing documentation concerning 70 Russian ship, vessel, and submarine projects that are currently under construction or undergoing modernization. According to reports, the files were obtained from a number of Russian naval and underwater technology centers, including the Rubin and Malakhit submarine design bureaus, the Central Scientific & Research Institute Elektropribor, and the JSC Concern Okeanpribor.

The hackers were able to obtain sensitive data on some of the Russian Navy’s most capable platforms, notably its Project 636.3 Varshavyanka, Project 949AM Antey and Project 955M Borei submarines, and Project 22350 frigates, as well as various navigation and stabilization systems. Some of the files were marked “secret” and “top secret,” according to a report from Militarnyi.

“The group said it had also obtained technical specifications, technical conditions, operating manuals, structural and functional diagrams, algorithms, accuracy and reliability parameters, test programs and procedures, as well as acceptance certificates,” the report added.

Ukrainian hackers had previously obtained classified documents related to the still-in-development PAK DA strategic bomber and the Su-57 Felon fifth-generation stealth fighter.

What Do the Leaks Mean for the Ukraine War?

This exposure is not likely to have a significant effect on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Most of Russia’s navy remains outside the theater of conflict, and the Black Sea Fleet, the segment of the Russian Navy with access to the Ukrainian coast, has been significantly degraded during the war.

Outside of the war, however, the exposed information could significantly compromise the Russian Navy, as the leaked blueprints and technical diagrams will provide Ukraine (and probably NATO) with otherwise unknown details, notably the internal layouts and structural limitations of the submarines and surface vessels. Such data could provide an intelligent adversary with more exact strategies to maximize the impact of anti-ship missiles or drones.

The compromised files could also provide insight into the operational details that can provide an adversary with improved electronic countermeasures and jamming protocols. Moreover, the detailed specifications about the acoustic signatures and geophysical positioning methods could make it far easier for Western intelligence and navies to track the “stealth” submarines.

In a broader sense, the release of this information won’t just compromise the security of the actual warships and submarines, either. The documents reportedly detailed how much the Russian defense industry continues to rely on foreign manufacturing equipment and components. Such information will allow international trade bodies to tighten sanctions and perhaps sever the clandestine supply chains that are currently required to maintain and modernize the Russian Navy fleet.

The technical data that Kyiv has obtained will require that the Kremlin modify entire classes of naval vessels to fix exposed design flaws and to reconfigure the supply chain.

Moscow is now faced with a massive undertaking that could span years. The alternative is that its adversaries could have a better understanding of how to track, target, and sink some of its most capable submarines and warships. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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