The cyberattacks also allegedly took aim at U.S. energy networks and American spies, among others, as the U.K. and U.S. governments sought to lay bare the Kremlin’s commitment to disrupting Western democracies with online influence operations ahead of elections in 2024.

Two Russian intelligence officers have been indicted as part of what prosecutors allege was a broad campaign to hack into U.S. and British government agencies – and to influence British politics.

The two are accused of leading a spear-phishing campaign that targeted multiple U.S. government agencies, employees of think tanks and journalists.

The United States and Britain announced punitive measures against two Russian hackers on Thursday as they exposed a Kremlin-backed cyber conspiracy that targeted London's democracy.

The United States on Dec. 7 announced an indictment alleging Russian citizens Peretyatko and Andrei Korinets oversaw a campaign to hack into computers in NATO member states on behalf of Moscow.

The U.S. in tandem with the U.K. on Thursday issued new sanctions on people affiliated with a years-long hacking campaign sponsored by Russia's top security agency. Why it matters: Since as early as 2016,

The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on two Russian hackers after the private conversations of high-profile politicians and civil servants were compromised.