The U.S. government has secured the extradition of Evgenii Ptitsyn, a key figure in the Phobos ransomware operation, accused of extorting at least $16 million globally.
Prosecutors allege that Ptitsyn, age 42, was part of the Phobos operation since 2020, developing and distributing ransomware to affiliates who carried out cyberattacks.
Indictments revealed victims of the Phobos ransomware included various Maryland healthcare providers and a children's hospital, highlighting the damaging impact on crucial services.
The operation involved charging affiliates around $300 for decryption keys, with victims paying ransoms between $12,000 and $300,000 to recover their data.