Vinlab's network cyberattacks will result in financial losses surpassing 1 billion rubles.
In a significant cybersecurity incident, the Russian alcohol retail network VinLab, a subsidiary of the Novabev Group, was hit by a large-scale and coordinated cyberattack on July 14, 2025. The attack disrupted parts of Novabev's IT infrastructure, causing operational disruptions and the temporary closure of WineLab stores.
The incident was described as a sophisticated attack, affecting services and tools used by WineLab and the group. As a result, customers have faced difficulties in making purchases, and there have been issues with customer purchases. The attackers reportedly made a ransom demand, but Novabev Group has refused to comply.
The attack has had a significant impact on the company's business continuity, potentially leading to financial losses and damage to its reputation. The retailer's net losses could amount to approximately 20% of its revenue, according to industry estimates.
To mitigate the impact, VinLab is addressing the issues manually and offering extended storage or replacement with similar products. The company's proactive stance against the attackers, by refusing to pay the ransom, may prolong the recovery process if encrypted data is involved.
The attack has disrupted VinLab's retail operations, with the company's website remaining offline, and mobile app purchases likely affected. The company initially attributed the store disruptions and website/app inaccessibility to "technical issues."
Prior to the announcement, the company was experiencing a strong growth, with sales volume in the first quarter of 2025 growing by 19.4%, reaching 22.1 billion rubles compared to the same period in 2024. However, the attack has caused significant daily turnover losses, with estimates ranging from 800 million to 1.2 billion rubles for a three-day store closure.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to legally enforce a mandatory share of Russian wine in restaurant wine lists and store assortments at 20% of the total wine quantity. This move is expected to help the industry recover from the attack, but it remains to be seen how it will affect the overall market dynamics.
Distributors have started purchasing wine from Chile, Argentina, and South Africa, for which the import duty is 12.5%. This shift in sourcing could have long-term implications for the Russian wine industry.
It is important to note that no customer data was compromised in the attack, according to Novabev Group. The company has been working diligently to resolve the issues and restore its services.
This cyberattack on VinLab is not the first incident of its kind in the Russian wine industry. In November 2023, a pro-Ukrainian group called C.A.S. claimed that the WASSER group had allegedly hacked Novabev's infrastructure. However, Novabev Group did not comment on the incident at the time.
The Russian government has taken steps to support the wine industry in the face of such incidents. For example, in 2024, the Russian government increased tariffs on wine from "unfriendly" countries by 25%, causing retail prices to rise by an average of 40% over the year. The government has also nationalized key players in the industry, such as the largest wine producer, the "Ariant" group, in the spring of 2024.
As the investigation into the cyberattack on VinLab continues, it is crucial for the company to prioritise data security and ensure the protection of its customers' information. The recovery process is ongoing, and updates on the progress will be closely watched by the industry and the public.
- Given the ongoing recovery process from the cyberattack, the VinLab company needs to prioritize finance management to minimize potential financial losses and maintain their reputation in the business sector.
- The disruption in technology systems due to the cybersecurity incident involving VinLab has impacted their business, leading to difficulties in conducting operations and increasing the dependence on alternatives, such as imports from countries like Chile, Argentina, and South Africa.
