U.S., UK sanction 7 Russians over cyber piracy

LONDON/WASHINGTON. Feb 9 (Interfax) - The United States and the United Kingdom together sanctioned seven Russian citizens on Thursday, in relation to their cyberspace activities deemed illegal by London.

"The individuals designated today are: Vitaly Kovalev, Valery Sedletsky, Valentin Karyagin, Maksim Mikhailov, Dmitry Pleshevsky, Mikhail Iskritsky, and Ivan Vakhromeyev," says a statement released by the British Foreign Office, adding that the aforementioned individuals have assets frozen and travel bans imposed.

The activities of these individuals resulted in damage to businesses and public organizations in Britain, America, Ireland and Costa Rica, it said.

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken said the UK and U.S. were taking "coordinated action today targeting cybercriminals who launched assaults against our critical infrastructure.

"The U.S. is designating seven individuals who are part of the Russia-based cybercrime gang Trickbot. We will continue to work with the United Kingdom and with other international partners to expose and disrupt cybercrime emanating from Russia," a statement released by the State Department on Blinken's behalf said.

"The individuals' involvement in a cyber-enabled activity that poses a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States," it said.