Ukrainian software developer faces 12 years in Swiss ransomware trial

August 17, 2026 · The Record · Severity: CRITICAL

Swiss prosecutors are seeking a 12-year prison sentence for a 52-year-old Ukrainian software developer accused of participating in an international ransomware operation that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. The defendant went on trial at Zurich District Court for his alleged involvement in attacks using LockerGoga, MegaCortex, and Nefilim ransomware against victims including Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rail, banking software developer Crealogix, and building technology company Meier Tobler. The Ukrainian, who has been in custody since October 2021, denied developing malware or participating in ransomware attacks, claiming the ransomware source code found on his devices came from a cybersecurity client for whom he had worked as a consultant. Prosecutors are also seeking to recover 1. 8 million Swiss francs in alleged criminal proceeds, with a verdict expected in September.