Russian Intelligence Using Fake Volunteers To 'Hunt' Ukrainian Troops SSU

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) SSU spokesperson Artem Dekhtiarenko said this during a television broadcast, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

“We have also recently seen a trend whereby pseudo-volunteers approach military personnel. In other words, the enemy exploits any vulnerabilities that may exist in a serviceman's psychological profile – this could be a desire for closeness, intimacy and so on. Or a Russian operative may simply approach someone and say: 'I want to help you as a soldier in a difficult situation. I'm a volunteer, and we have humanitarian aid. Please tell me the address where we can send you a package.' And instead of food and other supplies, a bomb arrives in that package,” he said.

Dekhtiarenko noted that another continuing trend involves Russians posing as journalists and contacting military personnel through their personal accounts, inviting them to interviews without coordinating with the press services of their respective military units.

“Either they conduct these interviews online and try to obtain sensitive service-related information, or they say: 'Let's meet at some location.' And when the person arrives at that location, everything has already been prepared in terms of a bomb. So, please, remain vigilant,” the spokesperson said.

Asked which Russian institutions are involved in such activities, Dekhtiarenko said that virtually all of Russia's intelligence and security services are operating against Ukraine, including the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU), and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

“They can often carry out similar tasks. If we are talking about a network of bots, other Russian structures that use this method operate in much the same way. They cast a wide net and then work with whoever responds. For example, they send text messages to servicemen saying, 'Hi, you're handsome.' In fact, such messages can be sent to a million service members, and then they respond to whoever engages with them,” the spokesperson explained.

Read also: Russian agent detained for helping direct strikes on Kharkiv

As reported, the SSU has launched a new stage of a nationwide information campaign aimed at countering the recruitment of Ukrainians by Russian intelligence and security services.

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