The U.S. Sanctions Several Russian Companies and Traders for Cyber Attacks

On Monday, June 11, the U.S. government sanctioned several Russian companies and traders for their involvement in cyber attacks and assistance to Russian military and security entities in other harmful activities. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that five Russian companies and three of their executives were sanctioned under regulations enacted last year and a presidential executive order aimed at countering cyber attacks on U.S. computer networks. Under these sanctions, the assets of these companies and individuals will be blocked in the U.S., and U.S. persons and companies are prohibited from dealing with them. In part of its statement, the Treasury Department said, 'The U.S. government consistently confronts harmful actors who work on behalf of the Russian Federation and its military and intelligence agencies to enhance Russia's offensive capabilities in cyberspace.' The statement noted that these sanctions are part of the response to a number of cyber attacks, including the so-called 'NotPetya' attack last year, the hacking of U.S. energy transmission networks, and international communication networks. The department also added that Russia is tracking undersea cables through which a significant portion of the world's communication data is transmitted. The companies targeted by these sanctions include Digital Security and its two subsidiaries, ERP Scan and Embedi, the Quantum Scientific Research Institute, and DYT Technologies. The three individuals listed in the U.S. sanctions are Alexander Lvovich Tribun, Oleg Sergeyevich Chirikov, and Vladimir Yakovlevich Kaganskiy, all of whom work for DYT Technologies. The U.S. Treasury states that the Russian company Digital Security has provided technical and material support to the Federal Security Service of Russia. DYT Technologies has also produced diving and marine reconnaissance equipment, including a submarine, for Russian government entities. Reuters reported, citing Steven Mnuchin, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, that 'the companies and individuals sanctioned today have directly contributed to enhancing Russia's cyber and underwater espionage activities through cooperation with the Federal Security Service of Russia and jeopardizing the security of the U.S. and its allies.'