Russian Alcohol Retailer WineLab Shuts Down Stores Following Ransomware Attack

WineLab, the retail subsidiary of Russia’s largest alcohol producer Novabev Group, has temporarily closed its 2,000+ stores nationwide after a ransomware attack crippled its point-of-sale systems and corporate IT infrastructure. The incident, which began on July 14, 2025, caused an estimated $18 million in losses and disrupted shipments of brands like Beluga Vodka and Belenkaya. Novabev Group confirmed the attack but refused to pay the ransom, citing a policy against negotiating with cybercriminals¹.

Attack Overview and Technical Details

The ransomware attack exploited an EternalBlue-like SMB vulnerability, reminiscent of the 2017 WannaCry attack, to infiltrate WineLab’s systems. Unlike WannaCry, however, this attack was highly targeted, focusing solely on Novabev’s retail operations. The malware encrypted critical infrastructure, including inventory management and payment systems, forcing stores to display “technical issues” signs². Yandex Maps data showed closures in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other major cities, with shipments halted for 48–72 hours³.

Novabev’s IT teams, assisted by external cybersecurity experts, worked around the clock to restore systems. Initial investigations found no evidence of customer data compromise, though the attackers’ identity remains unknown. Tactics such as the use of unpatched Windows systems (still prevalent in 30% of Russian enterprises⁴) and the absence of a kill-switch mechanism complicated mitigation efforts.

Economic and Operational Impact

The attack caused Novabev’s shares to drop 5.5% on the Moscow Exchange, with daily losses estimated at $2.6–3.8 million. Forbes Russia reported that this marks the first time a major Russian retail chain was fully paralyzed by a cyberattack⁵. Local retailers, including partners of WineLab, reported shipment delays due to the IT outage, highlighting supply chain vulnerabilities.

Metric	Impact
Financial Losses	$18M (total)
Store Closures	2,000+ nationwide
Stock Drop	5.5% (Moscow Exchange)

Response and Mitigation Strategies

Novabev’s refusal to pay the ransom aligns with its public stance against cybercriminal negotiations. The company prioritized system restoration over concessions, a decision that contrasts with some WannaCry victims who paid to recover data. The incident underscores the importance of patch management, particularly for legacy systems. A 2025 SCWorld report noted that outdated Windows deployments remain a critical weakness in Russian enterprises⁴.

For organizations facing similar threats, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate patching of SMB vulnerabilities (e.g., MS17-010)
Network segmentation to limit lateral movement
Regular backups stored offline
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) deployment

Broader Implications

The WineLab attack mirrors the economic impact of WannaCry, which cost the NHS £92 million in 2017⁶. However, its targeted nature suggests a shift toward precision strikes on critical retail infrastructure. The lack of attribution—despite tactics resembling North Korea’s Lazarus Group—complicates defensive strategies. Cloudflare’s WannaCry analysis notes that such attacks often exploit systemic neglect of basic cybersecurity hygiene⁷.

As ransomware tactics evolve, the Novabev incident serves as a case study in resilience. The company’s recovery efforts, though costly, avoided data leaks and operational collapse. Future attacks may test this model further, especially as threat actors refine their targeting of supply chains.