Ukrainian developer on trial for ransomware attacks on Stadler Rail

A 52-year-old Ukrainian software developer is appearing before the District Court of Zurich on charges related to international ransomware attacks. Prosecutors allege the defendant was a central developer and organizer of a criminal group that targeted corporate networks over several years.

In Switzerland, victims included rail manufacturer Stadler Rail, building technology specialist Meier Tobler, and Crealogix. These attacks caused millions in damages due to operational interruptions, data loss, and system remediation. During the attack on Stadler Rail, approximately 500 gigabytes of confidential data were stolen with threats to publish the information online.

The prosecution is seeking a twelve-year prison sentence and a twelve-year ban from Switzerland. In addition to extortion, the defendant faces charges of professional extortion, multiple counts of serious data damage, serious money laundering, and possession of child pornography. The suspect has been in custody since October 2021.