On Thursday, federal prosecutors in Washington revealed additional charges against members of Russia's military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, for their involvement in significant cyber attacks. These attacks not only aimed at several Ukrainian government computer systems but also extended to targets around the globe, leading to a superseding indictment against five GRU members and one civilian. The U.S. government is currently offering rewards of up to $10 million for information related to the defendants and their cyber operations.

The Justice Department has informed that these hackers specifically targeted computer systems integral to vital services, such as agriculture, education, and emergency response, rather than focusing solely on military or defense targets. The indictment highlights the use of a destructive malware called Whispergate, designed to obliterate the targeted computers and their data. Prosecutors described these operations as part of a broader strategy to destabilize Ukrainian confidence and sow fear among its citizens by exposing private information, including sensitive health data.

In January 2022, even before the full-scale invasion commenced, the hackers compromised computers associated with the Ukrainian State Portal for Digital Services, disseminating a menacing message to Ukrainians. Their efforts extended beyond Ukraine, impacting computers in various global locations, including a government agency in Maryland. In total, the cyberattack campaign affected systems in 26 NATO countries, highlighting the extensive nature of these malicious activities.

This latest indictment emerged around the same time as the Biden administration announced measures in response to Russian interference ahead of the 2024 elections, including the seizure of 32 internet domains used for covert influence campaigns. Additionally, charges were brought against two Russian nationals connected to a government-controlled news outlet for allegedly funding pro-Kremlin media efforts in the U.S. In a separate case, a former adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and his wife are also facing allegations of violating U.S. sanctions against Russia, with claims they concealed illegal Russian assets while residing in the U.S.