Russia exploiting Slovak cyber firm to target Ukrainian troops online

Russia is reportedly using Slovak-based cyber infrastructure to leak Ukrainian soldiers' personal data as part of psychological warfare.

Thus, sensitive personal information belonging to members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with details of their relatives and civil society activists, has been published on Russian-controlled websites, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

These so-called “doxing” platforms are designed to intimidate, humiliate and incite hostility toward their targets.

“Doxing is a form of online stalking – attackers publish personal information about the victim – address, phone number, workplace – and mobilise online crowds to bully the victim,” according to the report.

The campaign appears to be part of Russia’s wider information and psychological operations, extending its reach beyond Ukraine to include public figures in Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The Slovak-registered company allegedly providing technical support for these operations is StormWall, a cybersecurity firm with reported ties to Russian nationals. While officially based in Bratislava, StormWall is said to maintain multiple web domains and technology hubs across the US, Germany, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

StormWall is reportedly behind hosting services for NewsFront – a Crimea-based outlet sanctioned by the US Treasury Department and identified as a major Russian propaganda platform. NewsFront, also registered in Bratislava since 2017 and owned by Russian nationals, has previously collaborated with other state-linked Russian entities, including the TASS news agency and the MGIMO university.

The Ján Kuciak Investigative Centre noted, “StormWall presents itself as an international company providing customised cybersecurity,” but added that its ties to Kremlin-linked organisations raise serious concerns about its role in hybrid warfare.

By Aghakazim Guliyev