Cybercrime Russian Ransomware Operator Pleads Guilty in US Evgenii Ptitsyn was extradited to the United States from South Korea in November 2024. By Eduard Kovacs | March 5, 2026 (7:47 AM ET) Flipboard Reddit Whatsapp Whatsapp Email A 43-year-old Russian national has pleaded guilty in a US court to charges stemming from his role in the Phobos ransomware operation. The man, Evgenii Ptitsyn, was arrested in South Korea in June 2024 and extradited to the United States in November of the same year. The US Justice Department announced on Wednesday that Ptitsyn has now pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, for which he faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 15. According to authorities, Ptitsyn was involved in the Phobos scheme since at least November 2020, helping with the sale, distribution, and operation of the ransomware. Ptitsyn appears to have been part of the administration team, which offered malware and infrastructure that affiliates could use to target victims and obtain ransom payments. The Phobos operation emerged in 2019 and targeted more than 1,000 organizations worldwide, with cybercriminals believed to have obtained over $16 million in ransom payments. Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. Authorities in the United States and Europe have taken significant action against the Phobos operation in recent years, announcing infrastructure takedowns and arrests . The most recent arrest was announced last month. Police in Poland apprehended a 47-year-old man who appears to be suspected of being a Phobos affiliate. Related : LeakBase Cybercrime Forum Shut Down, Suspects Arrested Related : Tycoon 2FA Phishing Platform Dismantled in Global Takedown Related : Ukrainian Nefilim Ransomware Affiliate Extradited to US Related : US Charges 31 More Defendants in Massive ATM Hacking Probe Written By Eduard Kovacs Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is senior managing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher before starting a career in journalism in 2011. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering. 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