Still this is a curious twist to the story. I agree that it appears that the leaker, probably not a hacker, assumed giving the data to the BBC would get the story out there. Clearly this guy/gal is very inexperienced vis a vis the MSM. What is really laughable is that the BBC missed a scoop on what could be the biggest scientific scandal of the 21st Century. The reporter should be fired. More likely he will be promoted.
More than likely it was an editor that was sitting on the story. A reporter, especially an ambitious one, would recognize a “make your bones” story.
If it really was a Russian Hacker, kinda doubt that cover story, their primary interest would be cash. So perhaps the BBC was being blackmailed over something - or else this information dump would be leaked. Perhaps the BBC failed to cover the minimum bid. Russian hackers have acquired expensive tastes of late.