US Edition
Russian Pro Basketball Player Arrested for Alleged Role in Ransomware Attacks
PARIS, FRANCE, JUL 9 – Kasatkin faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud linked to ransomware attacks on 900 companies and two U.S. federal institutions, American investigators say.
- On June 21, 2025, French officials detained Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin at an airport near Paris following a U.S. request.
- Kasatkin faces allegations for negotiating ransomware payments on behalf of a hacking ring that attacked about 900 companies and two US federal agencies between 2020 and 2022.
- Kasatkin, 26, appeared as a guard for Penn State’s basketball team during the 2018-2019 season before spending four seasons playing professionally for Moscow's MBA-MAI prior to his arrest in June.
- His lawyer Frederic Belot stated Kasatkin is innocent, shocked by the charges, and attributes incriminating data to a second-hand computer Kasatkin purchased.
- The court denied Kasatkin bail, and he faces potential extradition to the US while his physical condition reportedly deteriorates during custody.
19 Articles
19 Articles
French police arrest Russian pro basketball player on behalf of US over ransomware suspicions
At the request of the United States, French police arrested a professional Russian basketball player who had a brief tenure at Penn State over accusations that he was part of a ransomware ring, according to overseas reports. News of the arrest of Daniil Kasatkin came in a court in Paris on Wednesday. His lawyer denied to foreign press that he was part of any ransomware ring. It’s already the second time this week that news broke about European a…
Russian Basketball Player Arrested in France at Request of United States
French law enforcement authorities arrested a Russian professional basketball player at the request of the United States, where he is wanted for allegedly taking part in a ransomware hacking ring, a Paris court heard Wednesday.
At U.S. request, France jails Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin on suspicion of ransomware conspiracy
A court in Paris has jailed Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin on suspicion of involvement in a hacker group’s extortion activities. The 26-year-old was arrested on June 21 at Charles de Gaulle airport at the request of the United States, which has charged him with conspiracy to commit computer fraud. According to American investigators, Kasatkin acted as an accomplice in a hacker group’s ransomware attacks on roughly 900 companies, inclu…
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