Russia-linked hackers used decentralised network in Ukraine cyberattack, ESET says

By Leo Marchandon Oct 22 (Reuters) Russia-linked hackers used a decentralised volunteer-run network to conceal communications during an attack on a Ukrainian grain logistics company, marking ​the first documented case of a state-linked group ‌using the network this way, ESET researchers said. The attack culminated in the destruction of data at the company in September 2025. Researchers say the technique could make hacking operations harder to identify and ‌disrupt ​because decentralised networks do not rely ⁠on a single centrally ⁠controlled server. Agriculture accounted for roughly a fifth of Ukraine s economy and nearly half its exports before the war, according to research estimates, and Russia has targeted the ​sector throughout the conflict, bombing ports, grain elevators and fields. Slovakia-based cybersecurity firm ESET said the attackers gained ⁠access to the company s systems in ⁠July 2025 through a phishing email carrying ​a malicious attachment. The attackers later install