Russian authorities have reportedly arrested Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, a 32-year-old man from Russia who is wanted by the United States over his alleged role in ransomware attacks.

Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reported last week that local prosecutors had announced charges against a man accused of creating a malicious program, specifically one designed to encrypt the data of commercial organizations. 

RIA Novosti learned from sources that the suspect is Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev [Russian language article].

Matveev has been known online as Wazawaka, m1x, Boriselcin, and Uhodiransomwar. Cybersecurity blogger Brian Krebs revealed that Wazawaka was Matveev in early 2022, which the man later confirmed to be accurate.

The FBI added him to its most wanted list in May 2023. The US Justice Department at the time announced charges against Matveev over his alleged role in LockBit, Hive and Babuk ransomware attacks. 

He is believed to have been involved in ransomware attacks aimed at thousands of entities in the US and elsewhere, including critical infrastructure organizations such as hospitals, airlines, and government organizations.  

Also in May 2023, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against the Russian national and the Department of State announced a bounty of up to $10 million for information leading to Matveev’s arrest.

It appears that the Russian government has started cracking down on local cybercriminals. A Russian news agency reported last month that a court had sentenced four members of the  REvil ransomware group to prison. 

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