The Security Service of Ukraine reports a new tactic used by Russian special services in attempts to recruit Ukrainians. Recently, there has been an increase in cases where the Russian forces pretends to be an "SSU officer" and assigns criminal tasks that are allegedly to be carried out "in the interests of the Ukrainian State."
This is the so-called "false flag" special operation tactic, which until now had practically not been used by Russian invaders but is now being actively attempted.
In recent weeks, the SSU has prevented several such crimes and urges Ukrainians to remain vigilant and not fall for provocations.
Another recruitment tactic increasingly used by Russian special services involves sending citizens summons via messengers demanding their appearance for interrogation by an SSU investigator over an allegedly opened criminal case. Usually, the fabricated reason for this "case" is the purchase of "goods prohibited in Ukraine."
After this, unknown individuals contact the citizen by phone and offer help in "closing the criminal case." To "resolve this issue," they demand the execution of assigned tasks:
- monitor the movements of a certain person;
- transfer unknown items from one address to another;
- make a money transfer to an unknown card, supposedly an account for "donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU)";
- purchase necessary chemical elements and manufacture an improvised explosive device;
- set fire to a vehicle of the Defense Forces or an administrative building;
- carry out sabotage, etc.
During these contacts, Russian handlers also require installing malicious software on the phone to monitor the device’s owner.
While teenagers were previously the priority targets of Russian special services’ recruitment, now elderly people are also targeted.
We emphasize that the Security Service of Ukraine operates exclusively within the framework of current Ukrainian legislation. SSU representatives do not require installing third-party software on phones and under no circumstances assign any suspicious "tasks."
