Security News > 2022 > January > US sanctions former Ukrainian official for helping Russian cyberspies
The U.S. Treasury Department announced today sanctions against Volodymyr Oliynyk, a former Ukrainian official, for collecting and sharing info on critical Ukrainian infrastructure with Russia's Federal Security Service.
"As in previous Russian incursions into Ukraine, repeated cyber operations against Ukraine's critical infrastructure are part of Russia's hybrid tactics to threaten Ukraine."
According to the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the information provided by Oliynyk would help Russian-backed state hackers target Ukraine's critical infrastructure based on previously observed Russian hybrid war tactics.
"The overall strategy is designed to pull Ukraine into Russia's orbit by thwarting Ukraine's efforts at Western integration, especially with the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization," the Treasury added.
During and following the Donbass conflict between Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces which started in mid-2014, Russian-backed hackers were believed to be behind several power outages across Ukraine experienced across several regions.
Oliynyk has a history of supporting Russia and shares the Russian's regime anti-Western sentiments, according to OFAC. After fleeing Ukraine to seek refuge in Russia, he currently resides in Moscow, Russia.