Moscow Denies It’s Behind Freezer Attacks at European Supermarkets

Nov. 5, 2026 European supermarkets hit by new fridge cyberattack, in Linkebeek near Brussels. REUTERS / Stephanie Lecocq The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed growing speculation that Russia may have been behind recent cyberattacks on European supermarket refrigeration units that spoiled millions of euros worth of frozen goods. In a series of attacks targeting retailers across Europe over the past three weeks, unknown hackers gained remote access to cooling systems in nearly 100 stores across at least 11 countries, including Belgium, Sweden, Germany and the U.K., turning up freezer temperatures as high as 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit). EU officials called the freezer hacks a deliberate attempt to disrupt the continent’s food supply network but did not blame any country or group. The BBC reported that online posts by pro-Russia hacker groups Noname057(16) and Z-Pentest Alliance claiming credit for the cyberattacks have only fueled speculation about Moscow’s possible role in the costly disruptions, though some analysts questioned their involvement. Cyber threat researchers told the Financial Times that a Russian-linked group was “very likely” associated with the latest attacks given earlier hacks of freezers at several U.S. military bases in August. The U.S. Justice Department also accused a pro-Russian hacking group of disabling a Californian meat processing plant’s refrigeration systems in 2024. “These are absurd claims,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing when asked about Danish and Swedish media reports alleging the involvement of at least two pro-Russian groups in the latest freezer hacks. “As always, they’re backed up by absolutely no reasoning, no evidence whatsoever, and yet here we have such baseless accusations against our country, implicating it in everything,” he said. The freezer hacks also come as European airlines face a growing number of hoax bomb threats that have forced some passenger planes to make unplanned or escorted landings. Some analysts have speculated that the seemingly separate incidents may be part of a wider operation by groups linked to either Russia or Iran to disrupt life across the continent. Read more about: Europe , Cybersecurity , Hackers Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Pro-Russian Hacker Group Gamifies Cyberattacks on Europe With Crypto Rewards – Investigation The report found that the group’s activity has not diminished despite a major Europol-led crackdown in July 2025 known as Operation Eastwood. 6 Min read EU Parliament Website Attacked After MEPs Slam Russian 'Terrorism' The European Parliament website was hit by a cyberattack claimed by pro-Russian hackers on Wednesday, shortly after lawmakers approved a resolution calling... U.S. Cracks Down on Russian 'Evil Corp' Cybercrime Group Russian hackers stole more than $100 million in eight-year operation run out of Moscow cafe basements. Hacking the Hackers: Russian Group Hijacked Iranian Spying Operation, Officials Say The Russian group "Turla" has used Iranian tools to hack in to organizations in at least 20 different countries, British security officials said.