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Russian man pleads not guilty to cyber espionage charge
Denis Obrezko entered a not guilty plea Thursday in federal court in Boston to a charge of conspiring to commit computer fraud and abuse. Prosecutors allege he participated in a Russian government-linked hacking campaign targeting U.S. and European organizations.
Jul 10, 4:23 AM·1m read1 source
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A 36-year-old Russian man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a federal charge that he took part in a cyber espionage campaign against Western organizations. Denis Obrezko appeared in a brief virtual hearing before a federal magistrate judge in Boston. He was extradited last month from Thailand after his arrest there in November.
Background of the case The indictment alleges Obrezko worked for Russia’s Federal Security Service from 2012 to 2017 before joining technology firm Yutek-NN as a deputy director. Prosecutors say the company conducted cyber espionage at the direction of the Russian government.
Court filings state the operation, tracked by cybersecurity researchers under the names “Void Blizzard” and “Laundry Bear,” targeted U.S. and European companies, NATO-aligned government agencies, and organizations supporting Ukraine.
Victims and evidence cited The FBI has identified at least 11 U.S. companies that were hacked, according to court filings, though officials believe the number represents only a fraction of the victims. The indictment says Obrezko’s phone contained AI-generated summaries of more than 13,000 stolen emails from members of an Eastern European parliament.
Obrezko faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. His lawyer said he plans to contest the charges on factual and legal grounds. Yutek could not be reached for comment.
