Anonymous claims it has hacked Russia’s Central Bank

• Hacktivists revealed latest action on Twitter, alongside a smiling mask image
• The bank is responsible for protecting and ensuring the safety of Russian ruble
• Group has already leaked thousands of Kremlin documents relating to the war

International hacking collective Anonymous claims to have exploited Russia’s Central Bank – and is threatening to release 35,000 files which include ‘secret agreements’ in the next 48 hours.

The bank is responsible for protecting and ensuring the safety of the ruble, the Russian currency which has plummeted in value since the invasion of Ukraine began last month.

In a post on Twitter late last night by one of the group’s accounts, Anonymous revealed its latest hack, though details were limited.

Alongside an image of a smiling mask – now synonymous with the group – it wrote: ‘JUST IN: The #Anonymous collective has hacked the Central Bank of Russia. More than 35.000 files will be released within 48 hours with secret agreements. #OpRussia’.

It comes as speculation has mounted in recent days over the future of central bank head Elvira Nabiullina.

She was photographed looking dejected at a Kremlin meeting and posted a cryptic video, in which she acknowledged the Russian economy was in an ‘extreme’ situation and said, ‘We all very much would have liked this not to have happened.’

But Vladimir Putin this week asked parliament to nominate her for another term, apparently scotching rumours she could resign in protest at the war.

There have been murmurs of concern from oligarchs who stand to lose massively from the invasion, such as the magnates Oleg Deripaska and Mikhail Fridman, who have both made cautious comments promoting peace.

On March 3, the board of Russia’s largest privately-owned energy company, oil giant Lukoil, also called for an end to the conflict.

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