Catenaa, Friday, February 27, 2026- The US Department of the Treasury on Tuesday sanctioned Russian cyber firm Operation Zero and several associated individuals following a guilty plea tied to the theft of US defense trade secrets in exchange for cryptocurrency.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Sergey Sergeyevich Zelenyuk, Operation Zero and five others for alleged involvement in malicious cyber activity targeting US national security.
Officials said the firm traded in software exploits that take advantage of vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, steal data or seize control of electronic devices.
The action follows a Department of Justice investigation into Australian national Peter Williams, who admitted last year to stealing proprietary software from his US defense contractor employer.
Prosecutors said Williams funneled the stolen material to Operation Zero in return for millions of dollars in digital assets. He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of trade secrets.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said authorities would continue pursuing those who steal American intellectual property and threaten national security.
Treasury officials said the designations mark the first use of sanctions authorities under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, enacted in 2023.
The law empowers the government to target foreign entities that steal or benefit from stolen trade secrets.
Among those sanctioned Tuesday was Marina Evgenyevna Vasanovich, identified as Zelenyuk’s assistant.
