French Authorities Arrest Russian Basketball Player Over Ransomware Conspiracy Targeting 900 Firms

Daniil Kasatkin, a Russian professional basketball player who has played in both the U.S. and Russia, was arrested in France at Charles de Gaulle Airport following a U.S. extradition request. He is accused of acting as an accomplice and negotiator for a ransomware gang responsible for attacks on nearly 900 companies, including two U.S. federal agencies, between 2020 and 2022. Kasatkin denies all allegations, with his lawyer stating he lacks computer skills and suggesting he may have unknowingly purchased a compromised second-hand computer. Despite requests for bail due to Kasatkin's deteriorating health and concerns about his safety in custody, a Paris court denied bail, and Kasatkin remains detained. His basketball team, MBA Moscow, announced his departure shortly after his arrest. U.S. authorities have not publicly commented on the arrest, and the specific ransomware gang involved has not been officially named, though reports hint at associations with the Conti ransomware group.