The US, UK and Australian governments have jointly imposed sanctions on Dmitry Khoroshev, the leader of the notorious LockBit ransomware gang based in Russia.
On May 7, the US Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions on Dmitry Khoroshev, leader of the notorious ransomware group, LockBit. According to the agency, since January 2020, the LockBit gang has collected more than $500 million worth of cryptocurrency through ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure such as hospitals and organizations. finance. The US government accused Khoroshev of being the leader of this group and the developer of the malware used to attack victims.
Along with the announcement from the US, the UK and Australia also put Khoroshev on the sanctions list. This is a trend that shows that the US and UK are increasingly cooperating closely in coordinating sanctions against cryptocurrency users to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions.
Previously, the US and UK jointly imposed sanctions on Gaza Now, a currency exchange service related to Hamas, earlier this year, and in September 2023, the two countries also jointly sanctioned the member of the Trickbot cybercrime gang.
The May 7 sanctions announcement also marked the first time governments revealed Khoroshev's identity as the leader of LockBit. In addition to imposing sanctions, the US Department of Justice also announced criminal charges against Khoroshev, while the State Department offered a reward of $10 million for Khoroshev's capture.
Joint action between the three countries not only aims to increase the effectiveness of sanctions but also sends a strong message of determination to deal with international cybercrime, especially gangs that use ransomware. to attack important targets, threatening security and safety globally.