ICYMI **Federal prosecutors have announced new charges and additional suspects in a major national security investigation with global implications.**
This case, initially reported in June when the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office issued a reward for the capture of alleged Russian cybercriminal Amin Stigal, has now expanded.
The Department of Justice revealed charges against five Russian military officers, accusing them of conducting cyber operations dating back to at least 2020.
Among those charged is Colonel Yuriy Denisov, a commanding officer of cyber operations for Russia’s GRU Unit 29155, along with four other lieutenants. These individuals are alleged to have carried out state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting Ukraine, the U.S., and other NATO allies.
The FBI is offering a $60 million reward for their arrests, as authorities claim they were involved in a global cyberwar campaign. In a coordinated effort known as “Operation Toy Soldier,” the hackers allegedly attacked critical infrastructure and government systems worldwide, including scanning a Maryland-based federal agency 63 times.
The indictment is part of an international collaboration involving numerous countries and marks a critical step in the fight against malicious cyber activity.