U.S. Sentences Russian Hacker to 6.75 Years for Role in $9M Ransomware Damage

A 26-year-old Russian citizen, Aleksei Olegovich Volkov, has been sentenced in the United States to 6.75 years (81 months) in prison for his role in assisting major cybercrime groups, including the Yanluowang ransomware crew. According to the U.S.

Department of Justice, Volkov facilitated dozens of ransomware attacks across the U.S., causing more than $9 million in actual losses and over $24 million in intended losses, and he served as an initial access broker who sold unauthorized network access to other criminal groups. He was arrested on 18 January 2024 in Italy and extradited to the U.S., and he pleaded guilty to the crimes in November 2025.

As part of the guilty plea, Volkov has agreed to pay restitution to victims, including at least $9,167,198 to known victims. The DoJ notes that his co-conspirators used the access he provided to infect networks with malware, encrypt data, and demand ransom in cryptocurrency, with Volkov receiving a share of illicit proceeds.