The US judiciary has accused four employees of Russian authorities as hackers.
They are said to have gained illegal access to computers in the energy sector worldwide from 2012 to 2018, the US Department of Justice said on Thursday.
A total of "thousands of computers in hundreds of companies and organizations" in about 135 countries were the target of the hackers.
"Russian state hackers pose a serious and ongoing threat to critical infrastructure in the United States and around the world," said Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
An accused employee of a research institute of the Russian Defense Ministry managed to cause two emergency shutdowns of an oil refinery abroad by hacking into computer systems, the ministry said.
He then wanted to hack computers in the United States that "manage similar critical infrastructure," it said.
disturb and harm
In addition, three employees of the Russian domestic secret service FSB are accused of trying to gain access to hundreds of computers in the energy sector.
"Access to such systems would have, among other things, enabled the Russian government to disrupt and damage such computer systems at any time in the future," the Justice Ministry said.
The four accused could face decades in prison if convicted in the United States.
However, they are allowed to stay in Russia, where they do not have to fear extradition.
The indictment is therefore initially a rather symbolic step, which should also serve to deter imitators.
The US State Department has announced a reward of up to ten million US dollars (nine million euros) for information on the further identification and whereabouts of the defendants.