The Russian dairy supply chain has experienced significant disruption after a sophisticated cyberattack targeted the country’s national animal product certification platform.
The “Mercury” system, integral to the management of veterinary accompanying documents, was forced into emergency operation mode as authorities worked to restore normal functionality.
Ministry Issues Emergency Directive
Late Thursday evening, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the Mercury component had been switched to a restricted emergency mode, a contingency protocol activated to preserve the continuity of veterinary document processing amid system outages.
Officials were quick to note that such a move was essential to ensure at least limited processing of veterinary certifications crucial for the lawful movement of animal products, including dairy, across the nation.
“During this emergency mode, all parties are instructed to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, No. 862 dated December 13, 2022, which stipulates the ‘Veterinary rules for organizing work on the execution of veterinary accompanying documents,’” the ministry’s notification stated.
The document sets forth procedures for manual processing and verification of necessary documentation, a labor-intensive fallback compared to the automated Mercury platform.
Disruption Impacts Dairy Distribution
The Mercury system forms the digital backbone of Russia’s veterinary certification network, facilitating real-time tracking and verification of animal-origin shipments, from producer to distributor.
Its compromise has resulted in widespread delays and confusion amongst dairy producers, distributors, and retailers, especially as the manual emergency protocol strains resources and extends waiting times for approvals.
Technical experts have observed that the attack a suspected ransomware or targeted disruption crippled the platform’s core functionalities, leaving only the most essential services operational through the emergency protocol.
The full extent of data compromise or potential loss remains under investigation. Authorities have yet to release specifics regarding system vulnerabilities exploited or the timeline for full restoration of service.
The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that stakeholders will be immediately notified as soon as normal operations resume.
In the interim, all entities involved in the processing or transport of animal products are urged to remain vigilant, comply with manual document requirements, and report any irregularities to the appropriate authorities.
Industry analysts warn that continued disruption could result in bottlenecks, inventory shortages, and logistical headaches throughout the dairy supply chain.
Smaller producers, particularly those in remote regions, may face heightened difficulties due to limited access to manual certification resources or veterinary inspectors.
As the Mercury team, alongside state cybersecurity experts, work to neutralize threats and restore full digital operations, stakeholders await further guidance on long-term remediation and enhanced security protocols to prevent future incidents.
For now, the Russian dairy industry operates in a landscape defined by uncertainty, relying on emergency procedures until the heart of its certification infrastructure Mercury can be safely and fully restored.
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