A Russian hacker has pleaded guilty to attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in Ukraine and the United States
2 May 01:34
Russian hacker Artem Revensky, known in cybercrime circles under the alias Digit, has pleaded guilty to involvement in attacks on critical oil and gas infrastructure in the United States, Ukraine, and other countries. According to Bloomberg, he faces up to 27 years in prison, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
Federal prosecutors in California have charged Revensky with conspiracy to damage protected computer systems, wire fraud, and identity theft.
Who is Artem Revensky
Artem Revensky is a Russian citizen known by the alias Digit. According to the investigation, he was a member of the Sector16 hacking group, which is linked to the Russian government.
Members of the group attacked critical infrastructure targets in countries that Russia considers hostile. Among the targets were oil and gas systems in the U.S., Ukraine, Germany, France, and Latvia.
What attacks is the hacker accused of?
According to prosecutors, Revensky collaborated with Sector16 to gain access to and damage the computer systems of oil and gas infrastructure facilities. Sector16 first came to light in 2025, when the group announced on the dark web that it had attacked an oil company in Texas.
In 2025, according to the investigation, the group gained access to facilities in the U.S. Specifically, this involved oil pumps and storage tanks in Texas, as well as attacks on facilities in North Dakota, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Bloomberg reports that in April 2026, Revensky was charged with conspiracy to damage protected computers, fraud, and theft of personal data. Following his guilty plea, the case will proceed in a federal court in California.
What is known about the attacks against Ukraine
The investigation is paying particular attention to Sector16’s actions against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
According to prosecutors, the group planned sabotage operations in Ukraine, specifically targeting energy facilities and the oil and gas sector. The hacker planned to shut down the country’s entire power grid for three days in exchange for a reward of 5 million rubles.
Additionally, according to the investigation, in September 2025, the perpetrators gained access to a gas facility in Poltava. In messages exchanged among the accomplices, Revensky discussed the possibility of causing physical damage to the equipment, specifically damaging the gas pipeline and overloading ventilation and gas production equipment.
They planned fires, explosions, and human casualties
According to Bloomberg, in the case of Poltava, it was not just about a cyberattack per se, but about preparations for a potential physical sabotage at an industrial facility.
The case materials indicate that Revensky discussed a plan to use access to the company’s systems to cause damage.
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How Sector16’s activities were financed
The investigation also established that Revensky helped finance Sector16’s activities through a hotel booking scheme.
According to prosecutors, the hackers used stolen personal data and payment cards to book hotels. They then split the profits with the hotels, which agreed not to flag such transactions as fraudulent.
According to investigators, in just a few months of 2024, the scheme could have generated over $150,000 in profits.
What punishment does Revensky face?
After pleading guilty, Artem Revensky could face up to 27 years in prison. The final decision will be made by a court in the Central District of California.
In addition to imprisonment, the case may involve fines and the forfeiture of illegally obtained funds—depending on the court’s decision.
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