Russian law enforcement agencies have destroyed the infamous hacking group Revil, believed to be behind cryptocurrency-linked ransomware attacks in the US. Although Moscow is unlikely to hand over Russian citizens to Washington, the operation has been carried out at the request of the United States, despite heightened geopolitical tensions between the two powers.
Russia’s FSB hits out at cybercrime group Rivil
On Friday, the Russian Federation’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it, together with the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), conducted raids against Ravil in the capital Moscow, St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Lipetsk regions. , Law enforcement officials searched 25 addresses and detained 14 alleged members of the organized crime group.
Over 426 million rubles ($5.6 million) worth of cryptocurrency, including $600,000 and €500,000, as well as crypto wallets, computer equipment used to commit crimes, and 20 high-end vehicles purchased with money derived from criminal activities The funds were forfeited, emphasizing in a press release the FSB detailed:
As a result of joint actions of the FSB and MVD, the organized criminal community ceased to exist, the information infrastructure used for criminal purposes was neutralised.
The FSB said the arrested persons developed malicious software and orchestrated the theft of funds from foreign bank accounts. Russian authorities have claimed they have “established the entire structure” of Revil and involved its members in “documenting illegal circulation of means of payment and illegal activities”.
US welcomes Russian action against hackers
Russia’s main law enforcement agency also said that the operation was carried out at the request of the US authorities concerned, who through malicious software used to encrypt data and extort money for it, the presumed leader of Revil and foreign high court officials. Shared information about their role in attacks on tech companies. decryption.
Moscow’s Tverskoye Court has detained two Russians – Roman Muromsky, a 33-year-old entrepreneur and web developer with no previous convictions, and Andrei Bessonov, the alleged Ravil hacker – until March 13, the Russian Interfax news agency reported. He has been charged with committing an offense under Part 2 of Art. 187 – “Illegal circulation of means of payment” – of the Criminal Code of Russia. The MVD has asked the court to take similar measures against the other three detainees.
Reville has been blamed for high-profile crypto ransomware hits in the United States, including one on the Colonial Pipeline that caused gas shortages on the US East Coast last May. Its perpetrators used ‘darkside’ encryption software, which is believed to have been developed by the group. Another case was an attack on the world’s largest meat packing company, JBS, as Reuters reported in June.
In its announcement, the FSB said that Russia had informed US officials about the results of the operation. The United States welcomed the arrest, Reuters quoted a senior official as saying: “We understand that one of the individuals arrested today was responsible for an attack against the Colonial Pipeline last spring.” A source familiar with the investigation told Interfax that Russia is not going to extradite any Revil member with Russian citizenship to the US.
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