A 51-year-old man holding dual Russian-Israeli citizenship, Rostislav Panev, was arrested in Israel at the request of the United States Department of Justice (DoJ). Panev has been charged for his alleged involvement in developing the infamous LockBit ransomware, which has been responsible for attacks on over 2,500 entities worldwide.
Panev is currently being held in Israel, awaiting extradition to the U.S.
According to court documents, he was involved with the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in 2019, continuing his activities until February 2024, when authorities dismantled parts of the operation.
Panev is accused of developing malicious code for LockBit, maintaining the infrastructure, and providing technical guidance to the group.
Investigators obtained evidence including credentials found on Panev’s computer, granting him access to repositories hosting LockBit source code and control panel credentials.
Additionally, Panev’s communications with LockBit’s main administrator, Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, revealed his role in the operation. Khoroshev is identified as a Russian national, and was previously charged by U.S. authorities.
Investigators also discovered that Panev received payments amounting to $230,000 in cryptocurrency from Khoroshev between June 2022 and February 2024.
The LockBit ransomware group has been linked to over 2,500 attacks across 120 countries, including 1,800 incidents in the United States alone. The group extorted more than $500 million in ransom payments, causing billions of dollars in damages.
Panev’s arrest has been viewed by law enforcement agencies worldwide as a critical step in combating ransomware operations.
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