Russia: Cyberattack Forces Closure of Hundreds of Pharmacies

A cyberattack on July 29, 2025, forced the closure of hundreds of pharmacies operated by the Stolichki and Neofarm chains across Russia. The incident disrupted payment systems and access to medication ordering platforms. On July 30, Stolichki confirmed that the outage was caused by a cyberattack, describing it as more complex than a typical DDoS assault. No hacktivist group has claimed responsibility as of yet.

Both Stolichki and Neofarm are part of the same holding company, formerly owned by Yevgeny Nifantiev, a former lawmaker with close ties to the Kremlin. Although he sold the holding to investment funds after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, reports suggest he may still exert some influence over the businesses.

Also on July 29, Moscow-based clinic network Family Doctor reported a separate cyber incident that temporarily disabled its patient portal and online appointment system. There is currently no evidence linking the two events.

Russia has experienced a sharp uptick in cyberattacks throughout July 2025, many targeting large organizations that provide essential public services. Recent victims include alcohol producer Novabev, St. Petersburg’s leading internet service provider Airnet, and national airline Aeroflot.