US Justice Department charges men from Ukraine and Russia with ransomware attacks News
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US Justice Department charges men from Ukraine and Russia with ransomware attacks

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged a Ukrainian and a Russian for their largescale ransomware attacks on the US.

Ukrainian national, Yaroslav Vasinskyi, was indicted in August on charges related to a cyberattack using ransomware known as REVil to attack the multi-national information software company Kaseya and over 1,500 of its customers. Kayesa, who worked with authorities in the sweep, was applauded by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco who said that by helping the FBI, they “were able to identify and help many victims of the attack.” The department also praised the work of the Ransomware and Digital Extortion Taskforce, who were able to investigate and prosecute the case.

Vasinskyi was arrested by Polish authorities after he crossed the border from Ukraine last month, following the DOJ’s request. The DOJ on Monday requested Vasinskyi be extradited.

Yevgeniy Polyanin, a Russian national, was also indicted by the DOJ for conspiracy to commit intentional damage to protected computers and to extort and conspiring to commit money laundering. Authorities seized $6.1 million in ransom payments tied to Polyanin’s REvil ransomware attacks.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the two indictments: “Our message today is clear. The United States, together with our allies, will do everything in our power to identify the perpetrators of ransomware attacks, to bring them to justice and to recover the funds they have stolen from the American people.”

 

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