Novabev Group plans to restore the VinLab network in all regions of presence within week after cyber attack

MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - Novabev Group , one of Russia's leading producers of alcoholic beverages, and its VinLab retail chain are gradually restoring operations after a cyberattack.

According to the company's press release, more than 100 VinLab retail outlets have already resumed operations in Moscow, the Moscow Region, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok and other cities, with new openings occurring non-stop. "Within a week, the chain plans to reach full operation in all regions of its locations," according to the press release.

The report indicates that purchases in VinLab stores are currently being made in the usual format, and the product range, quality of service, and discount program have been fully preserved. "Online services are gradually returning to standard operation: the site is already functioning as a catalog, and the updated version of the mobile application is in the final stage of moderation in app stores. Soon, customers will be able to fully enjoy all the benefits of the network," the company said.

Novabev Group expressed gratitude to partners, clients and the business community for their trust and support during this period. "The group's decision not to negotiate with cybercriminals was unanimously supported by all stakeholders, which once again confirmed the strength of business relations and mutual respect," according to the press release.

As reported, the company was subjected to a large-scale cyberattack on July 14, which affected the operations of its VinLab retail division. Consequently, the functionality of part of the IT infrastructure was disrupted, which affected the availability of a number of services, including VinLab operations. This led to restrictions on purchases in offline stores and on the retailer's website.

"The attackers contacted and demanded a monetary reward. The company adheres to a principled position of rejecting any form of interaction with cybercriminals and categorically refuses to fulfill their demands," the company said.

"No customer personal data was affected based on available information, and the investigation is ongoing," the company said.