Several of Russia’s largest pharmacy chains, including Rigla, A5, and ASNA, were forced to suspend operations following what officials described as a coordinated wave of cyberattacks targeting their IT infrastructure. The disruption affected hundreds of retail locations and online medicine delivery services, leaving consumers scrambling for essential medications.
The cyberattacks began late Monday evening and intensified by early Tuesday morning, affecting point-of-sale systems, inventory databases, and internal communication networks. Employees at multiple branches reported being unable to access digital ordering platforms or process customer prescriptions.
In an official statement, Rigla confirmed it was “experiencing serious technical difficulties due to an external cybersecurity incident” and had temporarily shut down operations as a precautionary measure. ASNA and A5 later echoed similar responses, citing compromised systems and the need to protect customer data.
Emergency Response and Possible Attribution
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development and Communications has been informed of the attacks and is coordinating with the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Roskomnadzor to investigate the breach. Authorities have not confirmed the source of the cyberattacks but have not ruled out the possibility of foreign interference amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Cybersecurity experts warn that this incident may be part of a broader trend of targeting critical civilian infrastructure. “Disrupting pharmacies directly impacts public health and consumer confidence — it’s a calculated, high-impact move,” said Andrei Kolpakov, a cybersecurity analyst at SberTech.
Preliminary assessments suggest ransomware may have been used, though no public ransom demand has yet been issued. Russia has seen a rise in cyberattacks on hospitals, government websites, and transport infrastructure over the past year.
Impact on Patients and Health Systems
Patients attempting to fill prescriptions for chronic illnesses, insulin, and cancer medications have reported delays and unavailability. Online medical consultation and e-pharmacy services were also affected, raising concerns in rural regions where access is already limited.
The Ministry of Health has advised citizens to seek assistance from unaffected pharmacies and promised contingency support via public medical facilities. Meanwhile, IT recovery efforts are underway, with partial services expected to resume in the coming days.