Federal authorities unsealed indictments Tuesday against a Ukrainian national accused of joining forces with Russian-aligned cybercriminal groups to target critical infrastructure in the United States, including public water systems.
Victoria Eduardovna Dubranova faces charges in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for her alleged role in a global hacking campaign. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dubranova conspired to damage protected computers and tamper with public water utilities.
Officials say Dubranova was extradited to the U.S. earlier this year. She has pleaded not guilty to charges related to her support of the CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn (CARR) and the hacking collective known as “NoName.”
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The indictment alleges that NoName has claimed responsibility for hundreds of cyberattacks intended to support Russia’s geopolitical goals. The group frequently used Telegram to boast about taking victim websites offline, targeting government agencies, financial institutions, and critical transport hubs like railways and ports.
“The defendant’s illegal actions to tamper with the nation’s public water systems put communities and the nation’s drinking water resources at risk,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Craig Pritzlaff.
Pritzlaff issued a warning to other cyber actors, stating that law enforcement partners “will not tolerate threats to our nation’s water infrastructure and will pursue justice against those who endanger the American public.”
The investigation, a joint effort by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and the Department of Commerce, highlights the growing concern over state-sponsored and state-sanctioned hacktivism.
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First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California noted that foreign intelligence services often use civilians to hide their tracks while targeting NATO allies and U.S. interests.
“The charges announced today demonstrate our commitment to eradicating global threats to cybersecurity,” Essayli said.
The EPA noted that Administrator Lee Zeldin has prioritized the security of the nation’s water supply. The agency recently released new resources in October to help local systems defend against digital threats.
If convicted, Dubranova faces a statutory maximum sentence of 27 years in federal prison. Beyond the water system tampering charges, she is also accused of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Authorities emphasized that the indictment is an allegation and Dubranova is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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