In response to the recent arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, Russian hacktivist groups have initiated a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting several French websites. The attacks are being led by the Russian Army Cyber Team and have affected high-profile sites, including the European Court of Human Rights, the regional utilities provider Syane, and France’s National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products, among others. These cyberattacks are being carried out under the hashtag #FreeDurov.
A spokesperson for the Russian Army Cyber Team announced on Telegram that the group would launch a week of attacks on French internet portals as retaliation for Durov’s arrest, which they believe is based on fabricated charges.
Pro-Palestinian hacker group RipperSec has also joined the campaign, targeting several French universities and educational institutions. The leader of RipperSec, using the alias Hekh, stated that the group carried out these attacks to protest Durov’s detention, which they see as an attack on online freedom.
Other hacktivist groups participating in the #FreeDurov campaign include VulcanSec, EvilWeb, GraveNet, and CyberDragon. While the attacks have caused some disruptions, many targeted websites remain operational, often due to DDoS protection measures like those provided by CloudFlare.
French authorities have not provided detailed statements regarding Durov’s arrest, but it is believed to be linked to concerns over the lack of moderation on Telegram, which has been used by hacktivist and ransomware groups.