Russian hackers once again attacked a hydroelectric power plant in Poland, disrupting the facility’s control systems. This is the second confirmed cyberattack on the plant this year after a previous attempt in May, according to Cybernews.
The plant is located near Gdańsk, in northern Poland. The perpetrators were quickly identified after they themselves released a video showing the breach of the plant’s interface. Based on the footage and technical data, the likely target was a small hydroelectric power station in Tczew.
Once inside the system, the hackers altered the turbine’s operating parameters, setting them to minimum or maximum values. This caused the generator and rotor — the turbine’s rotating component through which water flows — to stop. Turbine speed and output power began to fluctuate unpredictably.
Polish analysts confirmed that the hack had a real impact on the plant’s operation, causing an actual malfunction rather than being a simulated attack. On the day of the incident, monitoring systems recorded sharp fluctuations in turbine speed and water levels, along with periods of complete electricity production shutdown.
Previously, the same plant was targeted in May, but the hackers failed to gain full control because the facility was offline at the time. The latest attack, believed to have occurred on August 10, marks the first successful breach of an operational site.
According to CyberDefence24, cyberattacks on Poland’s industrial automation systems are becoming increasingly frequent. In recent months, hackers have targeted water treatment facilities in Szczytno, Serakowo, and Witkowo, as well as sewage treatment plants in Kuźnica. Several pools and fountains have also been compromised.
