Russia’s GRU intelligence service

President Vladimir Putin (left) is reported to be furious with GRU chief, Col-Gen Igor Korobov (right) over recent botched attacks. GRU headquarters (main picture)


2014: Russia’s military General Directorate* (GRU) mounts cyber attack on Dutch investigators during probe into downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board

2015: GRU’s Unit 26165 launches cyber attacks on French broadcaster TV5 Monde and British TV station Islam Channel

2016: U.S. investigators claim  GRU hacked into Democratic National Committee’s emails during U.S. presidential election

2016: GRU allegedly hacks into Court of Arbitration for Sport during inquiry into Russian state-sponsored doping

2017: GRU attack on servers of Ukrainian software firm, using NotPetya malware, spreads globally. Damage estimated at $10 billion

2017: Ransomware acting as Adobe Flash update, dubbed Bad Rabbit, hits almost 200 targets in Ukraine, including Kiev Metro and Odessa airport

Mar 2018: British government accuses two GRU officers of poisoning former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Novichok nerve agent in city of Salisbury

Apr: Dutch authorities arrest four members of GRU in botched attempt to hack into Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, during Novichok investigation
  
Sep: One Salisbury attacker identified as GRU officer Col. Anatoliy Chepiga

Oct 4: U.S. indicts seven GRU officers for computer hacking, wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering

Oct 9: Second UK attacker identified as GRU military doctor Alexander Mishkin
          

*known as Russia’s military Main Intelligence Directorate until 2010


Sources: Associated Press, Stratfor, Wired Pictures: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS