Russian-Led Cybercrime Network Dismantled by Europe, North America

European and North American law enforcement agencies have dismantled a major Russian-led cybercrime network involved in malware operations such as Qakbot, Danabot, and Trickbot, following a coordinated global effort including police from the US, UK, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. International arrest warrants have been issued for 20 suspects, mostly Russian nationals, and indictments against 16 individuals have been unsealed in the US. Among the accused are leaders like Rustam Rafailevich Galyamov, Aleksandr Stepanov, and Artem Aleksandrovich Kalinkin. The German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) has publicly sought to locate 18 suspects linked to these malware families, with Vitalii Nikolayevich Kovalev, allegedly behind the Conti ransomware group, described as one of the most notorious and successful cybercriminals in history. Kovalev is believed to reside in Moscow and is linked to hundreds of cyberattacks globally, including high-profile extortion cases against companies like the UK retailer Marks & Spencer. Authorities warn that such cyberattacks, aimed at destabilizing governments and financial theft, are increasingly dangerous and sophisticated.