Two fans of Russia were arrested in the USA this week: their stories are amazing

Since Monday, August 24, two people united by Russia have been arrested in the United States. The first is an American special forces soldier who is charged with espionage. The second is suspected of cyber fraud. Writes about it Meduza.

Photo: Shutterstock

Why a special forces soldier betrayed the United States

A former member of the elite Green Berets, an ex-US Special Forces soldier, was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. For this he received $ 1, a bottle of cognac and a uniform of the Russian military, reports Meduza.

Peter Raphael, 45 Dzibinski Debbins was arrested on August 21... The mother of the alleged criminal is a native of the Soviet Union. He first came to Russia at the age of 19, in 1994. While then a student at the University of Minnesota, the American visited Chelyabinsk on an educational program. There he met his future wife, who, by the way, was the daughter of a Russian officer.

From 1998 to 2005, Debbins served in the United States Army. He started in the chemical defense troops, then moved to the special forces. After leaving the army, he held a position in a Ukrainian steel company and collaborated with private military contractors, and was listed in the Military Intelligence Academy. It should be noted that Dzibinski speaks fluent Russian.

According to the United States Department of Justice, members of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) recruited the American fighter during his trip to Chelyabinsk in 1996.

On the subject: US State Department Announces $ 1 Million Reward for Two Ukrainian Hackers

During one of his first visits to Russia, Peter Raphael admitted that he feels like a “son of Russia” and is interested in the local culture. He was given the pseudonym Ikar Lesnikov and was handed a document to sign that he wanted to "serve Russia." It is worth noting that the American was informed only three years later that he was working for the GRU - before that, he believed that he was cooperating with the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Since 1996, Debbins has visited Russia seven times. While serving in the US Army, he passed information about his units and fellow servicemen to Russian military intelligence. In 1999, Peter announced that he was planning to leave the military service, but his Russian supervisors were against and persuaded not to do so.

Debbins left the service in 2005, but continued to send information to the GRU. For example, in 2008 he passed on the names and information about his former military comrades, who were also planned to be recruited.

Dzibinski's connection with the GRU after 2011 has not been confirmed, there is no such information in the indictment. However, according to The Washington Post, in 2012, Russian military intelligence still contacted Debbins to find out how things were going. How their conversation ended is unknown.

Information about what exactly motivated Dzibinski to betray the United States is contradictory. According to the indictment, Debbins believed that America had too much influence in the world, and he planned to weaken it.

“I felt like a messiah for Russia, imagined that I would free the country from a despotic government. So I was flattered when they approached me. In addition, I was worried about what they could do with my wife's family, ”The Washington Post quoted Debbins as saying.

On the subject: US intelligence agencies accused Russian hackers of trying to steal vaccine from COVID-19

It is known that Debbins received a token payment for his work. The letter of accusation indicates that in 2000, the curators gave the American only $ 1 (while he refused it), and in 2003 they presented a bottle of cognac and a Russian military uniform as a gift.

No other types of remuneration are mentioned. After leaving the army, Debbins reportedly planned to open a business in Russia. The GRU officers were supposed to help him in this, recommending, of course, to find a job under the US government.

Debbins was charged with conspiracy to provide information about the national defense of the United States to agents of foreign leadership. The defendant in the case was arrested and faces life imprisonment.

According to The Washington Post, at the court hearing, which took place on August 27, it became known that in the summer of 2019, the American himself admitted to having ties with the GRU during a check to extend the admission to classified information. But then the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) considered that his arrest would be premature.

What is known about the case of the second "lover of Russia"

Russian Yegor Kryuchkov, arrested in the United States on suspicion of cyber fraud, prepared a hacker attack to Tesla's Nevada-owned Gigafactory 1 lithium-ion battery plant. Tesla founder Elon Musk confirmed the information on Twitter.

"Much obliged. It was a serious attack, ”Musk said commenting on the news from Teslarati. The publication says that a certain Yegor Kryuchkov tried in every possible way to bribe a Russian-speaking employee of the Tesla plant, offering him $ 1 million. Having shown firm moral principles, the American turned to the FBI for help and helped prevent a well-planned cyberattack.

On Tuesday, August 25, the United States Department of Justice announced that 27-year-old Russian citizen Yegor Kryuchkov had been arrested in Los Angeles. He was suspected of trying to bribe an American in order to commit a cybercrime.

The department reported that the attacker was agitating an employee of Gigafabrika-1, which was previously referred to as the "Unnamed Company", to launch malicious software through his work computer. Further, it is assumed that a group of Russian hackers would gain access to the company's system, download important documents and demand a ransom for them.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Hacker attack: a Russian tried to hack an American company by paying $ 1 million to an employee

Department of State offers $ 10 million for information on interference in the US presidential election

Biggest Twitter Attack: 17-Year-Old From Florida Hacked

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.