The U.S. Justice Department has expanded its indictment of Russian military intelligence officers in connection with the 'WhisperGate' malware attack. This cyberattack was aimed at disrupting computer systems in Ukraine and 26 NATO allies, including the United States.
The superseding indictment, announced recently, implicates five Russian military intelligence officers in a conspiracy to undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people just before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The attack, known as 'WhisperGate,' took place in January 2022 and is believed to have been Russia's initial move in the conflict.
The cyberattacks not only targeted Ukraine but also infiltrated U.S. companies and affected various sectors of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. These sectors included the judiciary, emergency services, food safety, and education, among others. Personal data of thousands of Ukrainian civilians was stolen and leaked, with sensitive information being posted for sale online to further distress the victims.
According to Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general for national security, the perpetrators used the computer infrastructures of a U.S.-based company to carry out the WhisperGate attacks. The attacks extended beyond Ukraine to target computer systems in other nations supporting Ukraine, including 26 NATO partners, such as the United States.
A federal grand jury in Baltimore has indicted five military intelligence officers and a Russian civilian in connection with the cyber conspiracy. The U.S. government has offered a total of $60 million in rewards for information leading to the suspects' whereabouts or any malicious cyberactivity they may be involved in.
William J. DelBagno, special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore field office, emphasized that such cyber warfare will not be tolerated. The severity of Russia's actions in this case cannot be overlooked, highlighting the importance of addressing and preventing such malicious activities in the future.
