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News Security Apr 6, 2026, 1:59 PM
Emerging

BKA Identifies REvil Leaders Behind 130 German Ransomware Attacks: why this signal is getting harder to ignore

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (aka BKA or the Bundeskriminalamt) has unmasked the real identity of the main threat actors associated with the now-defunct REvil (aka Sodinokibi ) ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. The threat actor, who went by the alias UNKN , functioned as a representative of the group, advertising the ransomware in June 2019 on the XSS cybercrime forum. This piece sits on 1 source layers, but the real value is showing why the story should not be skimmed past too quickly.

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (aka BKA or the Bundeskriminalamt) has unmasked the real identity of the main threat actors associated with the now-defunct REvil (aka Sodinokibi ) ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. The threat actor, who went by the alias UNKN , functioned as a representative of the group, advertising the ransomware in June 2019 on the XSS cybercrime forum. The signal is strong enough to deserve attention, but it still needs to be read as something developing rather than fully settled.

Thảo Nguyên Security and Editorial Policy Editor
Emerging The topic has initial corroboration, but the newsroom is still waiting on stronger confirmation.
Reference image for: BKA Identifies REvil Leaders Behind 130 German Ransomware Attacks: why this signal is getting harder to ignore
Reference image from The Hacker News. The Hacker News

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (aka BKA or the Bundeskriminalamt) has unmasked the real identity of the main threat actors associated with the now-defunct REvil (aka Sodinokibi ) ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. The threat actor, who went by the alias UNKN , functioned as a representative of the group, advertising the ransomware in June 2019 on the XSS cybercrime forum. He has now been identified as Daniil Maksimovich Shchukin , a 31-year-old Russian national. The Hacker News is the main source layer for now, and the rest should be read as a signal that is still widening. In security, the real value is not just the warning itself but the way it changes operational risk, account safety, and the cost of responding later.

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What is happening now

Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (aka BKA or the Bundeskriminalamt) has unmasked the real identity of the main threat actors associated with the now-defunct REvil (aka Sodinokibi ) ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. The Hacker News form the main source layer behind the core facts in this piece.

Where the sources line up

The Hacker News is the main source layer for now, and the rest should be read as a signal that is still widening. The threat actor, who went by the alias UNKN , functioned as a representative of the group, advertising the ransomware in June 2019 on the XSS cybercrime forum. The Hacker News form the main source layer behind the core facts in this piece.

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The details worth keeping

He has now been identified as Daniil Maksimovich Shchukin , a 31-year-old Russian national. In security, the real value is not just the warning itself but the way it changes operational risk, account safety, and the cost of responding later.

Why this matters most

The signal is strong enough to deserve attention, but it still needs to be read as something developing rather than fully settled. With 1 source layers on the table, the part worth reading most closely is where firm facts meet the market's early reaction. He also went by the online monikers Oneiilk2, Oneillk2, Oneillk22, and GandCrab.

What to watch next

The next layer to watch is scope, patch speed, and the operating cost if teams are forced to change process because of this story. Patrick Tech Media will keep checking rollout speed, user reaction, and how The Hacker News update the next pieces. From 1 early signals, the piece keeps 1 references that are useful for locking the main details in place.

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