11th February, 2025
In a coordinated effort to combat global cybercrime, the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have imposed sanctions on Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) provider Zservers and two of its Russian operators for their role in facilitating LockBit ransomware attacks.
According to a statement by U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Zservers provided cybercriminals with specialized infrastructure designed to withstand law enforcement interference, enabling the execution of high-profile ransomware attacks against the U.S. and its allies.
“Russia continues to be a safe haven for cybercriminals, allowing threat actors to target critical infrastructure and economies worldwide. Today’s sanctions reaffirm our commitment to dismantling these networks and protecting our citizens,” Bruce stated.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury implemented the sanctions under Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 14144, further tightening restrictions on cybercriminal enablers.
The measures follow reward offers totaling up to $25 million for information on key individuals linked to LockBit ransomware, including a $10 million bounty for LockBit administrator Dmitry Khoroshev.
The latest crackdown is part of a broader international effort to disrupt ransomware operations, with authorities vowing continued actions against individuals and entities enabling cybercrime on a global scale.
