Leopard 1 A5 combat tanks ready for delivery to Ukraine are pictured at the military ground in Klietz, Germany, 23 February 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

Russia’s foreign military intelligence service, the GRU, has gained access to thousands of video surveillance cameras in Ukraine and the European Union to monitor foreign supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

According to British intelligence, the GRU hacked cameras near border crossings, military facilities and railway stations, gaining access to some 10,000 cameras in total, 80% of which were located in Ukraine, while about 10% were in Romania, with Poland, Hungary and Slovakia also having considerable numbers of cameras hacked, The Guardian said.

The British authorities also claimed that Russian intelligence tried to collect other data relating to AFU supplies, such as train schedules and shipping manifests, while Moscow was further accused of sending phishing emails containing pornography and fake information, and receiving stolen passwords to accounts to break into systems.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre called on private aid delivery companies to “familiarise themselves with the threat and mitigation advice included in the advisory to help defend their networks”. The advisory note mentioned was drawn up with agencies from 10 other countries, The Guardian continued.

British intelligence services have said GRU Unit 26165 was involved in hacking the cameras. According to The Guardian, the unit has conducted a malicious cyber-campaign against public and private organisations in NATO member states since 2022.