Russian supporters have temporarily taken down Stuttgart's online presence.
In recent news, the city of Stuttgart has fallen victim to a cyberattack, with its website taken offline due to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. The pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This group, active since 2022, has been notorious for conducting coordinated cyberattacks, primarily DDoS attacks, targeting cities, government institutions, critical infrastructure, and private companies in Germany and other European countries. Their political agenda is clear: they openly promote a pro-Russian stance, often communicating through channels like Telegram where they call for retaliation, mock law enforcement efforts, and announce new attacks on city authorities and websites.
Their scope and impact have been significant. In Germany alone, they have executed at least 14 attacks, lasting multiple days and affecting around 230 organizations, including arms manufacturers, utilities, and government entities. Attacks were also reported in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, often timed to political events like European elections, NATO summits, and speeches by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
In mid-2025, a major multinational crackdown named Operation Eastwood was carried out by European law enforcement, including Germany’s BKA. This operation led to the shutdown of NoName057(16)’s botnet infrastructure, with over 100 computer systems taken offline across multiple countries. Multiple house searches and arrests were made, plus international arrest warrants targeting organizers believed to be located in Russia and Spain. Warnings were also sent to participants and administrators involved in the attacks.
Despite the operation’s immediate disruption, NoName057(16) declared the crackdown “worthless” and vowed to continue attacks, indicating ongoing risks since key members remain out of reach in Russia. The group remains highly active, launching frequent DDoS attacks affecting multiple countries, including Germany and Belgium, and continuing to claim responsibility for cyberattacks.
The Cybersecurity Agency has confirmed that there was no data leakage from the state as a result of these cyberattacks. However, no details about the nature or extent of the damage caused by the DDoS attacks on the Stuttgart city website, Dresden portal, or Berlin city portal have been disclosed. It is also unclear how the hackers gained access to the Stuttgart city website.
The pro-Russian group "NoName057(16)" is a persistent, politically motivated pro-Russian hacker collective that has targeted German cities, government agencies, and critical infrastructure with disruptive cyberattacks. Despite significant law enforcement interventions, the group remains active and continues to pose a cyber threat to Germany and other European countries.
This latest attack on Stuttgart follows similar incidents in Dresden and Berlin, where DDoS attacks made the portals inaccessible for several days. No information is provided about the current status of the Dresden portal or Berlin city portal, or the specific group responsible for these attacks. The group primarily targets cities in countries that support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
The Stuttgart city administration had to take its site offline as a result of the cyberattack, but no further details about the measures taken to restore the site have been disclosed. As of now, no details about the specific group responsible for the DDoS attacks on the Stuttgart city website, Dresden portal, or Berlin city portal have been confirmed.
[1] SWR News, "Operation Eastwood: European police crackdown on pro-Russian hacker group," 2025. [2] Deutsche Welle, "Pro-Russian hackers target German cities and infrastructure," 2023. [3] BBC News, "Pro-Russian hackers claim responsibility for cyberattacks in Europe," 2024. [4] The Guardian, "Pro-Russian hackers continue to pose threat to Europe despite crackdown," 2025. [5] The New York Times, "Pro-Russian hackers target German cities with cyberattacks," 2023.
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