**Pro-Russia Hacktivist Support: Ukrainian Faces US Charges**

A shocking case of alleged cybercrime has emerged in the United States, as a 33-year-old Ukrainian woman, Victoria Dubranova, faces serious charges for her involvement with two notorious pro-Russian hacktivist groups. Dubranova's extradition to the US has sparked intense scrutiny, with reports suggesting that she may have played a significant role in aiding the cyberattacks carried out by these groups.

According to court documents, Dubranova is accused of collaborating with Cyber Army of Russia Reborn (CARR) and NoName057(16), two pro-Russian hacktivist groups linked to Russia's GRU. These groups have been responsible for launching a series of devastating cyberattacks on critical infrastructure worldwide, targeting essential services such as water supply, food facilities, agriculture, and energy sectors.

CARR, in particular, has been accused of posing as a patriotic volunteer collective, but its true intentions are far more sinister. The group's attacks began with Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks and website defacements, before escalating to industrial control system breaches using scanning and password-guessing techniques. This has led to real-world disruptions in water and food facilities, causing physical damage and posing significant risks to public health and safety.

It is alleged that CARR exploited poorly secured Virtual Network Computing (VNC) connections to access Operational Technology (OT) devices in critical infrastructure, leading to varying impacts on the affected systems. This has raised concerns about the vulnerability of OT systems to cyber threats and the need for improved security measures to prevent such attacks.

The US Department of Justice has charged Dubranova with involvement with CARR, which carries a maximum sentence of 27 years in prison. She is also accused of ties to NoName hacktivist groups, which could result in up to five years behind bars. However, it is worth noting that Dubranova has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The case highlights the increasing threat posed by pro-Russian hacktivist groups and the need for international cooperation to combat cybercrime. The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $2 million for information on CARR members, while offering up to $10 million for details about individuals linked to NoName.

The joint advisory from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and European partners warns that CARR has been responsible for attacking US water systems and a Los Angeles meat facility, causing spills, leaks, and damage. The group's attacks have also targeted critical infrastructure and election sites, with guidance provided by the GRU.

As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for governments, organizations, and individuals to work together to prevent such attacks from occurring in the future. The case of Victoria Dubranova serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of cybercrime and the need for enhanced security measures to protect critical infrastructure.

**Stay updated on this developing story by following me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon (SecurityAffairs – hacking, pro-Russia hacktivist groups)**