A 22-year-old Russian man was indicted by a Maryland grand jury Tuesday for conspiring to hack into Ukrainian and U.S. federal government computer systems.
Amin Stigal worked with his country’s military intelligence agency to destroy Ukrainian government systems and data in January 2022, less than two months before Russia’s invasion, according to federal prosecutors.
He also probed the computers of a federal government agency in Maryland in a way similar to how he did with the Ukrainian networks, prosecutors say.
“Malicious cyber actors who attack our allies should know that we will pursue them to the full extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek Barron said. “Cyber intrusion schemes such as the one alleged threaten our national security, and we will use all the technologies and investigative measures at our disposal to disrupt and track down these cybercriminals.”
Stigal infected the Ukrainian systems with a “cyberweapon” designed to destroy them and their data, according to the prosecutors. He allegedly targeted the country’s emergency service, judiciary administration, treasury and international affairs and energy ministries, among other networks.
He also sold data on Ukrainians that was kept in the computers to generate concern about the country and the security of government systems, prosecutors said.
“Ukrainians! All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect the worst,” the Russian intelligence agents wrote on hacked websites. “This is for your past, present and future.”
From August 2021 to February 2022, Stigal employed the same infrastructure used in the cyberattacks on Ukraine to probe U.S. government computers in Maryland, according to the prosecutors. He also hacked the transportation infrastructure of a central European country supporting Ukraine.
Stigal faces up to five years in prison. He is at large, and the FBI is offering a $10 million reward for information on his location or alleged cyberattacks.
“As alleged, the defendant conspired with Russian military intelligence on the eve of Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine to launch cyberattacks targeting the Ukrainian government and later targeting its allies, including the United States,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said.
“The Justice Department will continue to stand with Ukraine on every front in its fight against Russia’s war of aggression, including by holding accountable those who support Russia’s malicious cyber activity,” he added.
