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The U.S. governance has okay a Russian subject for allegedly laundering million of dollar ’ Charles Frederick Worth of victim ransom money payment on behalf of individuals linked to the ill-famed Ryuk ransomware mathematical group .
According to anannouncementfrom the U.S. Treasury ’s Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) , Ekaterina Zhdanova , 37 , is accused of using virtual currency substitution transfers and fraudulent story to launder money for Russian elites , ransomware groups and other big worker tohelp them put off economic sanctionsimposed on Russia ’s financial arrangement keep up the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine .
Ryuk first issue in 2018 and is known for its attack targeting the U.S. public sphere . In 2020 , during the COVID-19 pandemic , the gang was linked to an attack onUniversal Health Services , one of the large healthcare provider in the U.S. , be the health care whale at least $ 67 million in fall back earnings .
OFAC said Zhdanova wash more than $ 2.3 million of “ suspected victim defrayal ” for a Ryuk ransomware affiliate in 2021 . Zhdanova allegedly scarper the illicit funds through cryptocurrency central that lack anti - money laundering controls , including the Russia - based Garantex exchange , which was the subject of U.S. imprimatur in 2022 .
Zhdanova also use traditional businesses to maintain access to the international fiscal system , let in through a sumptuosity spotter company that has office around the world , according to OFAC . As perChainalysis , a hunting of Zhdanova ’s email address also reveals that she is currently sell a 13 - way hotel in Moscow that “ generates a net income of up to 1,000,000 rubles a month , ” or about $ 11,000 at the time of writing — though it ’s unreadable the hotel business bear on to her allege money laundering activeness .
TechCrunch send Zhdanova several WhatsApp and Signal messages via the phone routine include on the listing , but did not try back .
Zhdanova has also been accused of conducting practical up-to-dateness rally transfers on behalf of oligarchs who have relocated internationally . consort to OFAC , a Russian oligarch sought out Zhdanova to move over $ 100 million in wealth on their behalf to the United Arab Emirates , and she also facilitate like guest obtain taxation residency in the res publica , as well as identification card and coin bank business relationship based in Dubai .
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In February , the U.S. and U.K. governmentslevied sanctions againstseven individuals allegedly connected to a single mesh behind the Conti and Ryuk ransomware var. , as well as theinfamous Trickbot banking trojan . The sanctions came days after Russian citizen Denis Mihaqlovic Dubnikov , 30 , pleaded shamefaced in a U.S. Margaret Court to laundering Ryuk ransomware funds following his extradition from the Netherlands .
Do government sanctions against ransomware groups knead ?
