The Security Service of Ukraine uncovered in Odessa a network of bloggers who were acting in the interests of Russian special services. The individuals attempted to disrupt mobilization efforts and leaked the locations of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel within the city.
To achieve this, the perpetrators streamed provocative videos and published fake reports about Ukrainian military personnel and representatives of the Joint Forces Operation. Additionally, the bloggers disseminated coordinates of checkpoints and routes of movement for mobile groups of local military enlistment offices.
The Russian forces could have used this information to prepare airstrikes against Ukrainian defenders' locations. However, the Security Service thwarted the enemy's plans and detained 7 individuals.
Among those detained were a couple from Odessa who leaked Ukrainian Armed Forces' locations to a pro-Russian Telegram channel with over 200,000 subscribers. According to available information, this internet resource is administered by representatives of the FSB, who thereby gather information about the deployment and movements of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
In addition to the couple, the SSU also apprehended another local resident who leaked information to the same Telegram channel. Four residents of Odessa were also arrested for attempting to disrupt mobilization through posts in specialized groups and chatbots on popular messaging platforms.
Among them was an administrator of a regional Telegram channel with 15,000 subscribers, where a suspect shared current locations of personnel of the Joint Forces Operation and encouraged followers to engage in subversive activities in favor of the Russian Federation.
Following the arrests, the SSU took measures to secure the locations and movements of Ukrainian military personnel. During searches of the suspects, mobile phones and computer equipment with evidence of criminal actions were seized.
Currently, investigators from the Security Service have informed the detainees of suspicions under Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces during a special period).
The suspects face up to 8 years in prison.
