US Charges Russian Military Members Over WhisperGate Cyberattack

Federal prosecutors have charged five Russian military members with orchestrating the WhisperGate cyberattack, which targeted Ukrainian computer systems a month before Russia’s 2022 invasion. The indictment, unsealed in US District Court in Maryland, names Yuriy Denisov and lieutenants Denis Denisenko, Dmitriy Goloshubov, Vladislav Borovkov, and Nikolay Korchagin.

The attack, launched on January 13, 2022, aimed at Ukrainian government computers, including those linked to critical infrastructure, agriculture, and emergency services. Prosecutors allege the hackers accessed and sold personal data of Ukrainian citizens and targeted systems associated with 26 NATO countries and a US government agency in Maryland.

The Justice Department and FBI announced a $60 million reward for information on the suspects, all of whom remain at large. The indictment reveals that the WhisperGate attack was part of a broader strategy to undermine trust and destabilise Ukraine before the invasion. The FBI condemned the cyberwarfare, highlighting the international cooperation needed to counter such threats.

The Russian Embassy has not yet responded to the charges