U.S. charges Russian-Israeli citizen for role in Lockbit ransomware group

The U.S. has charged Rostislav Panev, a Russian-Israeli dual citizen, for his role in the Lockbit ransomware group. Panev, arrested in Israel in August, is awaiting extradition to the U.S. He allegedly worked with Lockbit since 2019. Lockbit has been linked to attacks on over 2,500 victims globally, including businesses and government agencies. The group operated a ransomware-as-a-service model, extorting at least $500 million from victims. This arrest follows previous actions against Lockbit, including guilty pleas from two members and the seizure of their websites. Law enforcement efforts have reportedly weakened the group's influence in the cybercrime world.