Russian internet provider Nodex is in the process of restoring its systems after a devastating cyberattack earlier this week, which compromised its network and wiped its internal servers, causing an immediate and complete collapse of internet connectivity to its Russian customers.

According to data from networking giant Cloudflare, which monitors internet trends and traffic, the Russian regional ISP's outage began late on January 6 and continues to show customer internet traffic levels at 0%. This suggests that the attack has had a significant impact on Nodex's operations, leaving its customers without internet access.

In a post on Russian social networking site VK, Nodex confirmed the cyberattack, stating that "the network has been destroyed" and that they are "raising it from backup copies." The internet provider said it had no immediate timeline for its recovery, leaving its customers in the dark about when they can expect to regain internet access.

The company later attributed the cyberattack to Ukrainian hackers, which it says caused a "complete failure" in its infrastructure. This accusation is supported by a hacking group called the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, which took credit for the cyberattack and posted screenshots from key servers inside of Nodex's network.

The screenshots, posted on Telegram, show access to Nodex's internal network, including one of its systems for its virtual machines, its backups, and other critical systems. The Ukrainian Cyber Alliance claimed that it "completely looted and wiped" Nodex's systems, exfiltrating data and leaving the equipment without backups.

According to The Record, which first reported on the breach, the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance is a group of pro-Ukrainian activists formed in 2016, and has targeted Russian entities following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This suggests that the cyberattack may be part of a larger campaign of cyber warfare between the two nations.

As of Wednesday evening in St. Petersburg, Russia, where Nodex provides its internet service, the company said its restoration work "continues." However, the timeline for recovery remains unclear, leaving Nodex's customers uncertain about when they will regain internet access.

The implications of this cyberattack are far-reaching, highlighting the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. It also underscores the importance of robust security measures and backup systems to mitigate the impact of such attacks. As the cyber landscape continues to evolve, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the need for vigilance and proactive measures to protect against cyber threats.

In the broader context, this cyberattack is a sobering reminder of the ongoing cyber warfare between Russia and Ukraine. As tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, it is likely that we will see more incidents of this nature, highlighting the need for increased cooperation and diplomacy to address the growing threat of cyber attacks.