Astamirov Ruslan Magomedovich

Biography

2023: Arrest on alleged cyber attacks

July 15, 2023 United States Department of Justice announced the indictment of citizen Russia Ruslan Astamirov in the spread of numerous ransomware viruses, as well as in other cyber attacks on computer systems in,, and USA Asia To Europe Africa.

Ruslan Astamirov, a native, Chechen Republic will appear in court on July 17, 2023. According to a criminal complaint received in the district of New Jersey, from August 2020 to March 2023, the Russian allegedly participated in collusion with other members of the hacker group. LockBit

US Department of Justice announces charges against Ruslan Astamirov

Ruslan Astamirov did this with the aim of committing fraud using electronic communications and intentionally damaging secure computers, as well as demanding ransom through the use and deployment of ransomware viruses. In particular, Astamirov directly carried out at least five attacks on the computer systems of victims in the United States and abroad.

As part of his activities related to LockBit, Ruslan Astamirov owned, controlled and used various email addresses, internet protocol addresses and other accounts of online providers that allowed him and his accomplices to distribute LockBit ransomware and communicate with their victims. In addition, in at least one case, U.S. law enforcement was able to track some of the ransom paid by the victim to the virtual currency address that Astamirov controlled.

Astamirov faces charges of conspiracy to commit communications fraud and conspiracy to intentionally damage secure computers and transfer ransom claims. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the first charge and a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the second charge. Both charges are also punishable by a maximum fine of either $250,000 or two times the amount of profit or loss from the crime, whichever is greater.

The announcement follows allegations related to LockBit hackers in two other cases filed in the District of New Jersey. In November 2022, the US Department of Justice announced the criminal prosecution of Mikhail Vasiliev, a dual citizen of Russia and Canada, who is in custody in Canada on June 16, 2023 and is awaiting extradition to the United States. In May 2023, the department announced the indictment of Matveyev Mikhail Pavlovich, aka Wazawaka, aka m1x, aka Boriselcin, aka Uhodiransomwar, for his alleged participation in separate conspiracies to spread various types of ransomware viruses LockBit, Babuk and Hive against citizens in the United States and abroad.^[1]

2024: Recognition of participation in the hacker group Lockbit

On July 18, 2024 United States Department of Justice , it reported that two Russians recognized themselves as members of a hacker group LockBit specializing in conducting a cyber attacks ransomware virus. They confessed to illegal activities and, Ruslan Astamirov Mikhail Vasiliev who face long-term imprisonment.

The US Department of Justice says that between January 2020 and February 2024, the LockBit group attacked more than 2,500 companies and enterprises in at least 120 countries around the world, including approximately 1,800 organizations in the United States. The victims included individuals, small businesses, multinationals, hospitals, schools, nonprofits, critical infrastructure, and government and law enforcement agencies. LockBit members extorted large sums as ransom, whereas the damage caused, including loss of income and the cost of dealing with the consequences of hacks, runs into billions of dollars.

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It is alleged that 21-year-old Astamirov from the Chechen Republic from 2020 to 2023 used LockBit malware against at least 12 victims, including enterprises in the United States, Japan, France, Scotland and Kenya. The total amount of redemption is estimated at $1.9 million. Astamirov pleaded guilty to two counts - conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

In turn, 34-year-old Vasiliev, who has dual citizenship of Canada and Russia, according to the American authorities, from 2021 to 2023 used LockBit in organizing attacks on organizations in the United States, Britain and Switzerland. Damage is estimated at at least $500 thousand. Vasiliev pleaded guilty to four counts, the maximum punishment for which could be 45 years in prison.^[2]

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