US Treasury Sanctions Russian National Ekaterina Zhdanova for Money Laundering and Evasion of Sanctions

Zhdanova Accused of Assisting Ransomware Group, Moving $100 Million for Oligarch to UAE, and Helping Evade Financial Restrictions Amid Russian Sanctions

• Ekaterina Zhdanova, a Russian national, has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for alleged money laundering and for assisting in the evasion of sanctions on Russia. She is accused of facilitating these activities for wealthy Russians and ransomware groups.
• Zhdanova is said to have aided a Russian client to obscure their source of income in order to transfer over $2.3 million into Western Europe through a fraudulently opened investment account and real estate sales.
• Accusations against Zhdanova also include her aiding a Russian oligarch to move $100 million worth of assets to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where she also helped Russians obtain residency permits and bank accounts that allow them to manage their finances globally, irrespective of the sanctions on Russia.
• She is reported to have used various methods including cash, international money laundering resources, and virtual currency for these transfers, thereby aiding in the evasion of U.S. and international sanctions.
• Additionally, Zhdanova stands accused of aiding the Ryuk ransomware group in laundering $2.3 million in wrongfully acquired funds. This group is reported to have targeted U.S. healthcare facilities with ransomware attacks in 2022.

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