**US Extradites Ukrainian Woman Accused of Hacking Meat Processing Plant for Russia**
In a significant development, the US has extradited a 33-year-old Ukrainian woman accused of hacking into US public drinking water systems and a meat processing facility on behalf of Kremlin-backed cyber groups. Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova, who has pleaded not guilty, will stand trial in early 2026 for her alleged involvement with two pro-Russia hacktivist groups: CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn (CARR) and NoName057(16).
According to the US Justice Department, Dubranova was a "pro-Russian hacktivist and administrator linked to malicious cyber attacks directed by the Russian GRU and the Russian presidential administration." The FBI's cyber division assistant director, Brett Leatherman, described CARR as a group that hacks industrial control systems and conducts distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against critical infrastructure websites.
One of the notable incidents attributed to CARR was an attack on a meat processing facility in Los Angeles in November 2024. The digital intrusion caused thousands of pounds of meat to spoil, triggered an ammonia leak in the facility, and resulted in over $5,000 in damages.
The indictment charges Dubranova with one count of conspiracy to damage protected computers and tamper with public water systems, as well as counts of damaging protected computers, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum penalty of 27 years in federal prison.
In addition to the charges against Dubranova, two other CARR members have been sanctioned by the US. The indictment also reveals that the GRU financed CARR's access to various cybercriminal services, including subscriptions to DDoS-for-hire services.
**Pro-Russian Hacktivist Groups Target Critical Infrastructure**
CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn (CARR) and NoName057(16) are two pro-Russian hacktivist groups that have been linked to several high-profile attacks on critical infrastructure. CARR, in particular, has been accused of hacking into public drinking water systems across multiple US states and a meat processing facility in Los Angeles.
According to the indictment, NoName's victims included government agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure, including public railways and ports. The group allegedly recruited volunteers from around the world to download its proprietary tool for network-traffic-flooding attacks, DDoSia, and used their computers to launch attacks on victims.
The international community has taken notice of these groups' activities, with law enforcement agencies shutting down over 100 servers used by NoName057(16) as part of the Europol-led Operation Eastwood.
**Protecting Critical Networks: A Top Priority**
As the threat landscape continues to evolve, experts emphasize the importance of securing critical networks against attacks by pro-Russian hacktivist groups. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), along with several international partners, has issued guidance for operational technology (OT) owners and operators on how to secure their critical networks.
"The single most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to reduce the number of OT devices exposed to the public-facing internet," CISA's Chris Butera said. These attacks tend to be opportunistic, with hacktivist crews scanning VPNs and remote-access tools connected to OT devices, he added.
The cumulative impact of this malicious cyber activity poses a persistent and disruptive threat to essential services, according to experts. Even small utilities and providers are at risk, making it crucial for all organizations to adopt a security mindset that prioritizes the protection of their critical networks.