EU Sanctions Notorious Ransomware Operator 'Stern' Linked to Trickbot Group

On July 13, 2026, the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom sanctioned Vitaly 'Stern' Kovalev and members of the Trickbot Group, attributing over $300M in ransom payments to Stern and citing the group's ransomware campaigns (including Conti and Ryuk) that have caused billions in damage and targeted critical infrastructure; the sanctions seek to disrupt these criminal operations through international cooperation.