InternationalNews
The United States Accuses a Russian-Israeli of Links to LockBit Ransomware
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday that it had charged a man with dual Russian and Israeli citizenship, alleging he was a developer for the LockBit ransomware.
According to the statement, Rostislav Panev, 51, was arrested in Israel in August and is awaiting extradition to the United States, as reported by Reuters.
The Justice Department’s statement emphasized that Panev’s arrest reflects the department’s commitment to using all tools to combat ransomware threats. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated, “We began this year with an international effort to disrupt the LockBit group, the most destructive ransomware group in the world.”
The statement explained that members of the LockBit group, such as Panev, developed malicious software and maintained the infrastructure that supported the group’s operations. Meanwhile, other members, referred to as “affiliates,” carried out attacks and extorted money from victims. Developers and affiliates then shared the profits from their victims.
According to the case documents, Panev worked as a developer for the LockBit ransomware group from its inception around 2019 until at least February 2024. During this time, the group attacked over 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries, including 1,800 in the United States.
The victims ranged from individuals and small businesses to multinational corporations, including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, critical infrastructure, government agencies, and law enforcement. The group reportedly collected at least $500 million in ransom payments and caused billions of dollars in additional damages.
