The hacker behind the ransomware assault that took down the Colonial Pipeline final yr has been by Russian authorities, based on US officers.

Russia’s FSB intelligence company mentioned Friday that 14 folks related to the REvil ransomware group had been arrested, The Wall Street Journal. The group has taken duty for within the US. Officials within the US consider the hacker behind the ransomware assault on the Colonial Pipeline final spring was amongst these arrested, based on an unnamed administration official who spoke to CNN.

Last yr’s cyberattack, which was attributed to a , triggered a major to the Colonial Pipeline, which provides almost half of the gasoline for your complete east coast of the US. The momentary shutdown of the pipeline incited mass panic shopping for at fuel stations in and across the east coast of the US, which resulted in shortages in a minimum of .

As CNN notes, the arrest comes after per week of diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia relating to Russia’s buildup of troops close to the border with Ukraine. The Biden official advised the community that it believes the arrest was “not related” to the scenario. But some analysts have urged in any other case, noting that that is the primary first US investigation Russia has cooperated on in eight years.