United States Sanctions and Charges Russia-based Ransomware Developer Mikhail Matveev

May 17, 2023

On May 16, 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Mikhail Matveev, a Russian national associated with the development and spread of several ransomware strains. Ransomware attacks associated with Matveev’s strains are estimated to have cost victims as much as $200 million. Mikhail Matveev is a Russian national who gained notoriety for his role in developing the Babuk ransomware strain and its RaaS affiliate program. He also had a role in deploying the Lockbit and Hive ransomware strains against victims as well. Mateev and strains associated with him have also been implicated in attacks on critical infrastructure including hospitals, school districts, and financial services firms.