Hacking group Anonymous says it has pulled off a massive cyberattack on Russia, releasing 10 terabytes of leaked data online.
The international activist group previously warned internet users this year about the actions of President Donald Trump and his ties with Vladimir Putin, and are known for their ‘hacktivism’ against certain governments and corporations.
They tend to target those who they view as corrupt, oppressive, or dangerous, and as you can guess by their name, they stay anonymous.
As there is no defined leader, it is hard to anticipate that they’ll do next, as the group continues to raise awareness of wider issues in the world.
The leaked data in question was released on 15 April 2025, and it includes sensitive information about the country’s political landscape, with information on local businesses also a part of the leaks.
Anonymous made the bombshell announcement on Tuesday 15 April (X/YourAnonCentral)
Data on pro-Russian officials and Kremlin assets overseas were also a part of the preciously confidential information.
On top of all of this, alleged information on US President Donald Trump was also made public.
The official X account for Anonymous announced the cyber attack on the social media platform, writing: “In defense of Ukraine Anonymous has released 10TB of leaked data on all businesses operating in Russia, all Kremlin assets in the West, pro-Russian officials, Donald Trump, and more.”
The unprecedented move has spilled the beans on a number of private topics, such as details on Russian businesses, their financial activities and their affiliations.
As well as this, some Kremlin assets in Western countries in particular have been revealed to have been under a network of influence, while officials have been named and attention has been brought to activities that may have been kept behind closed doors.
The hacking group announced their wide-scale hack to the public (Getty Stock image)
The move comes amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, with no clear end in sight as the US’ involvement hasn’t resulted in a peace deal being struck.
Long-term effects of this move on Russian businesses, the nation’s allies, and officials, are yet to be seen, as the hacking group have attempted to put a dent in the Kremlin’s operations as they continue to occupy about a fifth of Ukraine.
No further updates have been issued by the hacking group, nor have they threatened to release any further information.
They have continued to post on social media about the war, being critical of the Trump Administration and their actions following the 78-year-old leader’s move to impose tariffs on countries across the world.
China have continued to fight back against these measures, showing no signs of letting up.
Anonymous has called Trump out several times over the years (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump has even pinned the blame of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on three people, naming Putin, Joe Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as those responsible for ‘millions’ being dead.
Anonymous recently claimed to followers on X: “Trump is actively working against Ukraine. He is on the side of Russia. Don’t think for a moment that his goal is to help Europe, Ukrainians, or US security.
“He is here to do a job and that job is to weaken and ultimately destroy global democracy, international law, and you.
A rare clip has revealed what Vladimir Putin sounds like when speaking English.
Last month, the Russian President was recently reported to have conducted a 90-minute phone call with US leader Donald Trump over the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and potential.
We don’t have to wonder too much about the topics discussed, as both the White House and the Kremlin released key takeaways from the conversation.
However, many of us may have been left wondering exactly how did Trump and Putin converse with each other during the phone call.
It’s pretty safe to assume that Trump doesn’t speak a word of Russian; a quick Google search tells us he is proficient in only English, although he may know the odd Slovenian word on account of his wife and son.
But what about Putin, does he speak any English?
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at a 2018 press conference (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
While the Russian leader is only seen speaking through the use of an interpreter during press conferences, he does possess a decent proficiency when it comes to foreign languages.
In fact, the 72-year-old once gave a rare public address in English when announcing Russia’s bid to host the 2020 World Expo in the city of Yekaterinburg.
Have a listen for yourself below:
Why does Vladimir Putin rarely speak English?
English isn’t the only foreign language which Putin speaks either, with the Russian leader reportedly fluent in German, thanks to his days as a Soviet spy in East Germany, and he’s even delivered various speeches in the language.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, said (via i News) in 2021 that Putin ‘understands English completely’ and even corrects his translators from time to time.
So now that we know Putin is fluent – or at least conversational – in two foreign languages, the next question is: why does the Russian leader seemingly refuse to not speak Russian with world leaders?
Well, like most of us, he may simply feel more comfortable expressing himself in his native tongue, and prefers to eliminate the potential to be misunderstood, particularly during high level talks or world summits.
“In Russian, thank God, I get by in German and I can express myself more or less in English,” he once reportedly responded, when asked why he prefers to conduct business in Russian over any other languages.
The Russian leader can speak English and German to varying degrees (SERGEI ILYIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
After all, it would be pretty embarrassing if a world leader accidentally tanked their economy or declared war due to an accidental mistranslation during a highly televised speech.
So if you ever, for some reason, find yourself in a situation where you’re having a conversation with Vladimir Putin, expect him to exchange pleasantries in English before switching to Russian for the nitty gritty.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have quite the, well, interesting relationship.
From previously saying they are ‘very close’ and have a ‘very good relationship, the US president also hits out at Russia and claims to be ‘very angry’ with the leader.
For one reason or another, this kind of back and forth has been long running and the pair don’t necessarily always directly meet face to face.
But tracing things back, body language experts have analysed how Trump ‘really felt’ about Putin when they had their first face-to-face talks.
Back in 2017, the pair met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. Having been scheduled to last 30 minutes, the meeting stretched to over two hours as it was reported at the time discussions included ‘Ukraine, Syria, some bilateral and other issues.’
The pair first met face to face in 2017. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
There was also conversation around ‘fighting terrorism and cybersecurity.’
Before their meeting, the pair gave brief public remarks as Trump said: “We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for Russia, for the United States and for everybody concerned.
“And it’s an honour to be with you.”
Through an interpreter, Putin added: “I’m delighted to be able to meet you personally, Mr. President. And I hope, as you have said, our meeting will yield positive results.”
Body language expert Dr Lillian Glass observed the video of the pair shaking hands as she said the US president ‘looked more dominant.’
“Trump is completely taking control,” she claimed. “And the handshake is very strong on both of their parts – this is a very strong handshake.”
Experts say Trump took control. (BPA via Getty Images)
Glass went on to describe a ‘tension’ in Putin’s face.
“He’s not used to another leader taking control, he’s usually the one in control of things,” she said.
Another clip of the pair shaking hands was shared by the German government as Glass pointed out Trump grabbing Putin’s arm.
“This is a power play,” the expert claimed as she said it can be ‘a sign of affection’ but also a way of indicating the US leader was ‘the one in charge.’
TIME also spoke to body language expert Patti Wood who said that gesture was indicating support.
“Trump puts his left hand up underneath, which is the supportive cue, up underneath Putin’s arm and taps it three times,” she explained.
“Now that’s going to sound odd, but three actually has a strong symbolic reference in nonverbal communication, and typically it means a true feeling or a true emotion. So you combine all those together: He’s supportive underneath Putin’s arm, he’s touching it three times in a gentle pat. It means, ‘I support you, I really support you.’”
She also said the way that Trump was seated in the remarks before the private meeting had a certain slouch ‘that’s all about manliness.’
Featured Image Credit: German Government
Donald Trump has claimed that ‘millions are dead’ in Ukraine ‘because of three people’.
The US President has yet again pointed the finger at Volodymyr Zelenskyy following their heated confrontation in the Oval Office back in February.
During the interaction, Trump, alongside Vice President JD Vance, accused the Ukrainian President of ‘gambling with world war three’ without support from the US.
In his Washington office yesterday (14 April), Trump was in a meeting with El Salvador’s leader when he told reporters that Zelenskyy was not ‘competent’.
Also taking a swipe at former POTUS Joe Biden, who was in office when the war first began, he said: “If Biden were competent, and if Zelenskyy were competent, and I don’t know that he is. There was no way that war should never have been allowed to happen.”
But he wasn’t finished there, as he then took aim at Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, adding: “Biden could have stopped it, and Zelenskyy could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it.”
When asked about Zelenskyy, Trump said: “When you start a war you’ve got to know you can win the war. You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size.
“And then hope that people give you some missiles.”
“Millions of people are dead because of three people,” he continued.
Donald Trump has blamed the war in Ukraine on ‘three people’, including Vladimir Putin (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
“Let’s say Putin number one, let’s say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelenskyy. And all I can do is try and stop it – that’s all I want to do. I want to stop the killing.
“And I think we’re doing well in that regard. I think you’ll have some very good proposals very soon.”
In a 60 Minutes interview, Zelenskyy hit back at Trump, insisting that he doesn’t ‘want to engage in the altered reality that is being presented to me’.
“First and foremost, we did not launch an attack. It seems to me that the vice president is somehow justifying Putin’s actions,” Zelenskyy said of JD Vance.
Opening up about his ‘hatred’ towards Putin, he said: “Putin? 100 percent hatred. Not even 99.9 percent.”
Trump told reporters that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not ‘competent’ (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
“Though this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work to end the war as soon as possible and transition to diplomacy. But how else can you see a person who came here and murdered our people, murdered children?
“We’re inside a school bomb shelter right now. The bomb shelter of a school. The bomb shelter classrooms beneath the city of Kryvyi Rih were silent.”
Zelenskyy further told CBS’ Scott Pelley during the interview that this is the reason why ‘we can’t trust Russia’.
“Our people have paid the highest price possible. There is no higher price. We have given all our money–all we have in terms of finances. But most important, we gave [the lives of] our people,” he said.
Featured Image Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Anonymous has called out a warning about Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and the ‘Project Russia’ plan, which they urge people to stop before it’s too late.
The name was given to a series of four books written by Yuriy Shalyganov that were published between 2005 and 2010. Shalyganov at first remained anonymous.
The books talk about a ‘controlled global collapse’ and the establishment of a ‘supranational’ state dominated by elites and led by a ‘prince-monk’ figure who ‘best understands the world’.
They claim that democracies don’t work and are decadent, whereas Russia is morally superior and should see democratic nations as the enemy.
A particular disdain for American democracy is held, in coverage on the books the Washington Spectator notes that Project Russia sees the US as ‘easily manipulated’ and suggests that Donald Trump’s second term is a chance to see whether the book’s ideas are being put in action.
Project Russia calls for the ‘controlled collapse’ of democracies (Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
They’re not the only ones confirmed to be worried about the impact Project Russia‘s manifesto is having on the US.
In a recent video, Anonymous called out the plan and warned people watching that ‘Trump and Elon are going to destroy your democracy’.
They said: “Trump, Musk and Putin are playing a dangerous game and it’s your democracy on the chopping block.
“Trump’s love fest with Putin isn’t just cringeworthy, it’s a goddam red flag. Cozy phone calls, shared campaign mottos and productive chats about Ukraine and global power scream one thing: collusion.
“Add Musk, now pulling the strings in the US government’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, slashing public programs while sucking up power.”
They claimed there was a ‘perfect storm for democratic destruction’ brewing.
In the video they also said: “Project Russia, a documented plan to destabilise western democracies, details this exact f**king playbook. Exploit economic chaos, co-opt influential figures and erode public trust until democracy is a smouldering ruin.
Anonymous claimed that Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were using ‘textbook moves’ from the Project Russia books (X/@YourAnonNews)
“Musk’s unchecked authority and Trump’s bromance with Putin are textbook moves from that playbook.”
Afterwards, they declared they ‘see through the bulls**t’ and said ‘Anonymous isn’t sitting on the sidelines any longer’.
Naming their new list of targets they said they’d be going after ‘the corrupt, the rich oligarchs and the fascist pieces of s**t who peddle a future built on oppression and decay’.
They invited people to join them and signed off their video with the usual parting words ‘expect us’.
Shortly after the Russians launched their invasion of Ukraine, Anonymous claimed they’d hacked the Central Bank of Russia and the agency responsible for censoring information in the country.
Additional words by Brenna Cooper
Featured Image Credit: Contributor/Getty Images