An investigation led by the French Police and Paris Prosecutor, in close cooperation with their Ukrainian counterparts and Europol, has resulted in the arrest of the suspected administrator of xss[.]is, one of the world’s most influential Russian-speaking cybercrime platforms. The following authorities participated in the investigation: France’s Paris Prosecutor (Parquet de Paris – JUNALCO), French Police – Paris Police Prefecture, Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Security Service of Ukraine’s Cybercrime Department. French authorities obtained judicial authorization to monitor a Jabber server operated by the suspect, revealing extensive criminal communications that exposed ransomware attacks and other cybercrime activities generating at least EUR 7 million in illicit profits. Europol provided essential operational and analytical support throughout the investigation, facilitating information exchange and coordination between French Police and Ukrainian authorities. In September 2024, the case moved into the operational phase in Ukraine, where French police investigators were deployed on the ground, supported by Europol through the establishment of a virtual command post. During this week’s enforcement actions in Kyiv, a Europol mobile office was deployed to support French and Ukrainian teams with on-site coordination and evidence collection. This operation aligns closely with findings from Europol’s 2025 Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA), which highlights the booming black market for stolen data as a critical driver of the cybercrime economy. Investigators believe he has been active in the cybercrime ecosystem for nearly two decades, and maintained close ties to several major threat actors over the years. The arrest took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 22, as part of a series of coordinated enforcement actions aimed at gathering evidence and dismantling the criminal infrastructure.
This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Wed, 23 Jul 2025 17:45:10 +0000