US Disrupts Russian Military-Run DNS Hijacking Network

Justice Department says operation dismantled cybercrime infrastructure

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:00am

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A fractured, overlapping geometric painting in shades of blue, grey, and red, depicting a tangled web of digital infrastructure, conceptually representing the disruption of a Russian cyber espionage network.The U.S. government's disruption of a Russian military-run cyber espionage network represents a significant blow against foreign adversaries' malicious digital activities.Washington Today

The U.S. Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it has disrupted a Russian military-run network that was hijacking Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure to facilitate cyber attacks and other malicious activity.

Why it matters

This operation is part of the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to counter Russian cyber threats and disrupt the Kremlin's ability to conduct malicious online activities. DNS hijacking is a common tactic used by state-sponsored hacking groups to redirect internet traffic and gain access to sensitive data.

The details

According to the Justice Department, the disrupted network was operated by the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), a military intelligence agency. The network had been hijacking DNS infrastructure to redirect internet traffic and facilitate cyber attacks, data theft, and other criminal activities.

  • The Justice Department announced the disruption on April 7, 2026.

The players

U.S. Justice Department

The federal agency responsible for enforcing the law and defending the interests of the United States according to the law.

Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)

The military intelligence agency of the Russian Federation, known for conducting cyber operations and other malicious activities.

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What’s next

The Justice Department stated that it will continue to work with international partners to disrupt and dismantle Russian cyber threats.

The takeaway

This action demonstrates the U.S. government's commitment to countering Russian cyber aggression and protecting the integrity of the internet infrastructure from state-sponsored hacking groups.