Germany announces arrest of prominent leader of Russian hacking group "Kilin" in cooperation with Japan

German authorities have announced the arrest of a prominent leader of the Russian cybercrime group "Kilin," which is suspected of involvement in extorting thousands of organizations across the globe, in an operation Berlin described as a "historic success."

The arrest came after a months-long infiltration and surveillance operation carried out by German authorities in cooperation with their Japanese counterparts, as part of ongoing international efforts to pursue groups involved in cyberattacks and ransomware schemes.

The "Kilin" group is known for conducting large-scale cyberattacks targeting government and private institutions across several countries, amid growing international concerns over the expanding activities of Russia-linked hacking groups and their impact on digital infrastructure worldwide.

German authorities have not disclosed further details about the identity of the detained individual or the legal steps to come in the case, while no immediate comment has been issued by Russian authorities on the arrest.