Politico | US charges Russian hackers with sweeping campaign of cyberattacks
- Six GRU intelligence officers accused of taking part in destructive NotPetya malware campaign and disruption of 2018 Winter Olympics
- Other alleged attacks include hacks of Ukrainian power grid and meddling attempts in 2017 French election
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Eric Geller on politico.com on October 19, 2020.
A US federal grand jury has charged six Russian nationals with a wide-ranging campaign of cyberattacks, including the highly destructive NotPetya malware and the 2018 attack on the Winter Olympic Games, that reflects the scope and intensity of Russia’s digital aggression.
As officers of the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU, the six defendants allegedly took part in June 2017 NotPetya malware campaign, the 2015 and 2016 hacks of the Ukrainian power grid and the spearphishing and hack-and-leak operations during the 2017 French elections.
NotPetya, which began in Ukraine, quickly escaped, causing devastating losses for companies around the world. The shipping giant Maersk saw its entire operation temporarily collapse as the malware locked up its computer systems. A White House report estimated the malware’s total damages at US$10 billion, according to Wired. It was the most destructive and widespread malware outbreak in history.
“No country has weaponised its cyber capabilities as maliciously or irresponsibly as Russia, wantonly causing unprecedented damage to pursue small tactical advantages and to satisfy fits of spite,” John Demers, the head of the Justice Department‘s National Security Division, planned to say at a press conference, according to his prepared remarks.