Alleged LockBit Ransomware Developer Arrested in Israel; Awaits Extradition
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged a dual Russian-Israeli citizen in the US for his alleged role as a developer for the now-defunct ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) LockBit.
51-year-old Rostislav Panev, who was apprehended in Israel in August 2024, is now awaiting extradition, according to a DoJ statement.
Decoding Panev’s role
The accused, described by prosecutors as critical to LockBit’s operation since it surfaced in 2019, allegedly developed the digital infrastructure that enab