The National Office of Veterans Affairs victim of a major cyberattack

Could this be a consequence of Russia's war in Ukraine?

Proof of its hybrid conflict strategy, conducted both on the ground and remotely?

The National Office for Veterans (ONAC) has been the victim of a large-scale cyberattack, and some eyes are already turning to Moscow.

Contacted by us, the Paris prosecutor's office, confirming information from BFMTV, announces that an investigation "was opened on December 16, 2022".

A complaint had been filed the day before by ONAC, while the cyberattack was detected on December 10.

This attack, specifies the prosecution, is of the “ranconware” type, confirming that the hackers are asking for money.

The latter, specifies BFMTV, attacked the servers, software and databases of ONAC.

Veterans, target of choice for Moscow?

The investigation is opened on the counts of fraudulent access and maintenance in an automated data processing system, fraudulent introduction into an automated data processing system, fraudulent modification of data contained in an automated data processing system, obstruction of the operation of an automated data processing system, organized gang extortion and association of criminals.

Also according to BFMTV, the hackers “approached” a potentially sensitive document, namely the “veterans card”.

It contains a certain amount of personal information, such as the telephone numbers of veterans.

What raise a number of concerns, while Vice-Admiral Patrick Chevallereau alerted Thursday in a column published by the JDD on the role of former French soldiers, who "contribute to the interests of the Kremlin".

Among them are notably Colonel Alain Corvez, present in the Donbass as an “observer” during the referendums, Colonel Jacques Hogard, who regularly relays the publications of the Russian Embassy in France.

Or Xavier Moreau, who has become spokesperson for the Kremlin.

These officers “do not hesitate to relativize or reverse the burden of responsibilities which are at the origin of the worst conflict that Europe has known since the end of the Second World War, writes Patrick Chevallereau in his column.

These former soldiers, in a more or less supported way, thus marry the narrative of the Kremlin, ”he continues.