A citizen of Uzbekistan has been sanctioned by the United States.
The United States is explaining this decision with illegal cyber activity.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has expanded its sanctions list against Russia, adding four individuals and three companies to the restrictions list. This was reported by the RBC publication.
The sanctions list includes the company Matrix (Operation Zero), registered in Russia, as well as the companies Advance Security Solutions and Special Technology Services located in the UAE.
The list also includes Russian citizens Sergey Zelenyuk, Oleg Kucherov, Marina Vasanovich, and Uzbek citizen Azizjon Mamashoyev.
According to U.S. officials, the sanctions are related to illegal cyber activity. In particular, Sergey Zelenyuk is suspected of selling exploits through the "Operation Zero" project, which allow unauthorized access, data theft, or control of electronic devices by exploiting software vulnerabilities.
According to information, his company purchased eight exploits stolen from an American defense contractor between 2022 and 2025 for $1.3 million.
Marina Vasanovich was added to the sanctions list as Zelenyuk's assistant, and Special Technology Services was included as a structure controlled by him.
U.S. officials also stated that Azizjon Mamashoyev controls the company Advance Security Solutions and that this company is also involved in the trade of cyber exploits.
Furthermore, Oleg Kucherov is listed as a person associated with the Trickbot hacking group. The U.S. side emphasized that these measures were taken as part of the fight against illegal cyber activity.
