The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $2.5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Volodymyr Kadariya, a 38-year-old dual national of Belarus and Ukraine, who is accused of playing a central role in a major international hacking operation that spanned nearly a decade.

Kadariya, charged in June 2023 with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud, is believed to have been a close associate of Maksim Silnikau, another 38-year-old dual national of Belarus and Ukraine. Silnikau, allegedly the mastermind behind the large-scale cybercrime network, was extradited to the United States from Poland in July 2024. He now faces multiple charges in connection with the operation.

The cybercrime network under Kadariya and Silnikau's direction is said to have orchestrated the creation and distribution of several notorious ransomware strains, including Reveton and Ransom Cartel, which extorted tens of millions of dollars from victims across the globe. These malicious software variants were used to lock victims' data, demanding ransoms in exchange for its release.

In addition to ransomware, the network was also behind the distribution of the Angler Exploit Kit, a tool used in "malvertising" campaigns. The campaigns involved placing malicious advertisements on legitimate websites, which, when clicked, would silently deliver malware to the victim's computer. The malware ranged from information-stealing software to additional ransomware variants.