UK unmasks LockBit ransomware affiliate as high-ranking hacker in Russia state-backed cybercrime gang

**Executive Summary:** The U.K. National Crime Agency, as part of Operation Cronos, identified LockBit affiliate "Beverley" as Russian national Aleksandr Ryzhenkov and linked him to Russia-backed Evil Corp, resulting in sanctions, U.S. charges, and multiple arrests across the U.K., France, and Spain; authorities also disrupted LockBit infrastructure, reported a drop in affiliate numbers, and disclosed that LockBit's code would not delete victim data even if ransom was paid.