Ukrainian Suspect on Trial in Stuttgart for Ransomware Attacks

The trial centers on allegations of extortion and sabotage using GandCrab ransomware, which caused over €2.4 million in damages across Germany.

The Ukrainian suspect is accused of targeting 22 companies and institutions in Germany between 2018 and 2019, encrypting data and demanding Bitcoin ransoms.
The attacks, which disrupted operations and halted production at some companies, primarily affected southern Germany but extended to other regions.
The suspect was arrested in Slovakia in 2024 and extradited to Germany; two additional suspects with international warrants remain at large.
The GandCrab ransomware used in the attacks was one of the most widely deployed globally, causing hundreds of millions of euros in damages worldwide.
The trial, expected to last at least ten days, is part of broader efforts to combat the growing threat of ransomware, which caused €16.1 billion in damages in Germany in 2023 alone.