US sanctions 'world's largest' Russia-owned darknet market Hydra amid Ukraine war

In latest clampdown on Russia’s military aggression, United States on Tuesday, April 5, slapped sanctions on world’s most prominent Russian marketplace on dark web and cryptocurrency exchange, Hydra, which is kwn to be mainly operating from Moscow and St. Petersburg. In an official statement, US Treasury Department said that global threat of both cybercrime and ransomware “originates in Russia” and ted that Washington remains concerned regarding same. 

official statement said, “Today, U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned world’s largest and most prominent darknet market, Hydra Market (Hydra), in a coordinated international effort to disrupt proliferation of malicious cybercrime services, dangerous drugs, and or illegal offerings available through Russia-based site.”

“This action was enhanced by international cooperation with German Federal Criminal Police, who today shut down Hydra servers in Germany and seized $25 million worth of bitcoin,” it ded.

After Russia launched a massive offensive in Ukraine on February 24 in name of military operation, US and or Western nations have stood in stefast support of war-torn nation. Recently, backlash against Russian troops drastically increased after emergence of mass civilian killings in Bucha and bodies lying on street. United States has t only ramped up measures in support of Ukraine including an allotment of $100 million in military aid but has said that it would furr ramp up sanctions against Moscow.

‘Global threat of cybercrime originates in Russia’, says US

As Russia-Ukraine war continues to furr deteriorate US-Russia ties, US Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in a statement, “ global threat of cybercrime and ransomware that originates in Russia, and ability of criminal leers to operate re with impunity, is deeply concerning to United States”. She also said, “Our actions send a mess today to criminals that you cant hide on darknet or ir forums, and you cant hide in Russia or anywhere else in world. In coordination with allies and partners, like Germany and Estonia, we will continue to disrupt se networks”.

Im: AP/Pixabay/Representative