Hackers linked to more than $82 million illicit proceeds uncovered in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Cyber Police, together with law enforcement in Norway, France, Germany and the United States, uncovered a hacker group that attacked the servers of leading global companies. The total damage from their activities since 2018 amounted to more than 3 billion hryvnias (over $82 million).

The ransomware they developed infected in total more than 1,000 corporate servers across Europe and North America. To unlock the systems, the hackers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrencies. In particular, for restoring operations of one of the Netherlands’ leading chemical companies, they demanded 450 BTC.

Law enforcement identified the 32-year-old leader of the hacker group and four of his accomplices. More than 30 searches were conducted in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Rivne and Vinnytsia regions.

Computer equipment, vehicles, bank cards and SIM cards, ‘draft’ records, dozens of electronic storage devices, as well as about 4 million hryvnias in cash and cryptocurrency were seized. A decision on the seizure of the seized assets is being considered.

The police opened a criminal case for unauthorized interference in the operation of information systems, creation of malware and extortion. Three suspects were charged. The investigation continues, with the search for the remaining members of the group underway.

Earlier ForkLog reported that in 2023 Ukrainian law enforcement authorities received more than 1,500 reports related to crimes in the cryptocurrency space.