Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Monday exposed a Russian agent network spreading disinformation via Telegram channels in Ukraine.
"During a long-term operation, SBU operatives established that the intelligence network was set up by the so-called Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) 85th Main Special Service Center, which included residents of Kharkiv and Odesa cities, as well as activists of the so-called Russian Spring. They are currently operating from the Russia-controlled Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in Tyraspol city," the Ukrainian Intelligence reported.
According to SBU, the Russian special services recruited Ukrainian citizens to create a number of political all-Ukrainian and regional Telegram channels named; Legitimnyi, Resident, Cartel, Spletnitsa, Chornyi kvartal, Politicheskii rasklad, Netypichnoe Zaporozzhye, Trempel Kharkov, Odessa fraer, Dnepr live, Nikolaev live, Kherson live.
Allegedly, the "chief manager" of the intelligence network was a resident of Odesa city. He organised pro-Russian disorders during the "Anti-Maidan" in the city of Odesa. Currently, the perpetrator is wanted under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The offender personally managed 12 Telegram channels and communicated with the customers. Afterwards, he reported the work performed and agreed with Russian curators to publish illegal content on Telegram channel. The cost of the publications varied from several hundred hryvnias on regional channels and up to UAH 25-30,000 (USD 893-1072) on all-Ukrainian channels.
SBU said that its officers have already identified 50 customers who transferred funds for the illegal publications and they are checking the suspects’ involvement in illicit activities against information security.
"According to the linguistic and psychological conclusions, the agitprops disseminated information to create panic, aggravate and destabilise the socio-political and socio-economic situation in Ukraine via Telegram channels. Their core task was to discredit public authorities, influence public policy and artificially create internal pressure and incite citizens to protest," the SBU wrote.
The intelligence also established that Russian special services allowed network members to organise the monetisation mechanism. The fraudsters obtained money via a network of accomplices who opened bank accounts in Ukraine. Later, they converted the money into currency and transferred to unrecognised Transnistria (TMR), Moldova or Russia.
Law enforcement officers detained a Ukrainian citizen in Kyiv, one of the key suspect in the criminal proceedings. She and another member of the intelligence network were suspected of high treason.
"SBU officers seized the electronic storage device with personal data of a large number of law enforcement officers. The SBU has repeatedly received data on the use of the region about secret meetings between Russian agents and the intelligence network," Ukraine's Security service added.
The report noted that the organiser of the network, hiding from the investigation abroad, was served a suspicion notice of high treason in absentia.
