Russian intel steps up recruitment of Ukrainians for terror attacks, SSU warns
The Security Service of Ukraine reports an increase in recruitment activity by Russian intelligence services targeting Ukrainian citizens.
According to Ukrinform, the SSU reported this.
It is noted that the enemy has intensified so-called “false flag” operations. In these schemes, Russians pose as Ukrainian law enforcement officers and, under various pretexts, pressure citizens into preparing arson attacks, terrorist acts, and acts of sabotage.
During such operations, Russian operatives:
- call or message people while pretending to be officers of the SSU, the Defense Intelligence Directorate, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the National Police, or other Ukrainian law enforcement agencies;
- use dating websites to obtain personal data, then blackmail individuals with alleged criminal liability (for example, for supposedly purchasing medical products on Russian websites);
- demand money in exchange for allegedly closing fake criminal cases;
- push targets to commit arson attacks on administrative buildings, vehicles of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and other targets.
In some cases, representatives of the Russian Federation contact Ukrainian citizens directly by phone, impersonating law enforcement officers. In other cases, they rely on various fabricated “cover stories” and recruitment approaches.
In particular, the enemy first sends Ukrainians fake summonses via messengers, demanding that they report to an SSU investigator or another Ukrainian law enforcement agency over a supposedly opened criminal case. After that, representatives of Russian intelligence services contact the person by phone, again posing as Ukrainian officers, and offer help in “closing” the case. In return, the targeted individual is required to carry out assigned tasks.
Additionally, Russians use online dating services for recruitment. Enemy intelligence operatives create fake female profiles, communicate with Ukrainian men, and extract their personal data and contacts. Later, a Russian handler contacts the user, pretending to be an SSU officer, and accuses them of cooperating with Russia. The pretext is their communication with the fake woman, who is allegedly linked to enemy intelligence services. To avoid supposed criminal liability, the individual is offered “cooperation.”
People recruited in this way are then forced to commit various illegal acts, including: surveillance of specific individuals, transporting packages from one address to another, purchasing chemical components and assembling improvised explosive devices, setting fire to Defense Forces vehicles or administrative buildings, and preparing terrorist attacks or sabotage at critical facilities.
The Security Service of Ukraine once again urges citizens to follow basic information hygiene rules and to be extremely cautious when communicating with unknown individuals.
The SSU stresses that it operates strictly within the framework of current Ukrainian legislation and that its officers never issue suspicious or unlawful requests.
If citizens receive proposals through online services, social media, messengers, or by any other means involving arson, transportation of unknown items, surveillance of people or vehicles, or other suspicious activities, they should immediately report this to the SSU via the chatbot “Expose an FSB Agent,” by phone at 0-800-501-482, or by email at callcenter@ssu.gov.ua.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police dismantled an agent network of Russia’s Federal Security Service that was preparing a series of new terrorist attacks in Kyiv and Zhytomyr.