Cyber ​​specialists of the Security Service of Ukraine eliminated 2 more bot farms: in the Kyiv region and in Odessa. The "army of bots" in almost 7,000 accounts was used to spread destructive content, in particular for:
- discrediting the Defense Forces of Ukraine and the state leadership;
- justification of armed aggression of the Russian Federation;
- destabilization of the social and political situation in the country.
In the Kyiv Region:
According to the investigation, the bot farm for 5,000 accounts was created and administered by a 24-year-old native of the Zaporizhzhia region who currently lives in the Kyiv region.
For the sake of the conspiracy, he registered fake accounts through Russian e-mail services and virtual numbers of Russian and Belarusian mobile operators. In some cases, he used forged documents of Ukrainian citizens for their verification.
The attacker rented out or sold "ready-made" bots to interested parties, accepting payment for his "services" to a bank card.
It was established that his "clients" were, in particular, representatives of the PR departments of political parties and citizens of the Russian Federation, who promote destructive and provocative materials in the Ukrainian information space.
Law enforcement officers searched the residence address of the "bot network" administrator, where they found and seized:
- computer equipment with evidence of illegal activity;
- special software.
Currently, the issue of notifying the bot farm organizer of suspicion under Part 1 of Art. 361 (unauthorized interference in the work of information (automated), electronic communication, information and communication systems, electronic communication networks) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
In the Odessa region:
Four local residents organized the bot farm.
The main activity of criminals is creating and promoting accounts in social networks and messengers. "Businessmen" used them to spread panic in the region, in particular, they dispersed disinformation and fake news from the fronts.
As a result of operational and investigative actions, the fact was confirmed that their "clients" were persons in the Russian Federation's territory.
In the course of searches carried out at the residences of the perpetrators, law enforcement officers discovered and seized:
- computer equipment, 4 servers, more than 250 USB modems and mobile phones with evidence of illegal activity;
- bank cards;
- more than 400 SIM cards of mobile operators.
The seized equipment was sent for examination. The investigation is ongoing to find out all the circumstances and the persons involved in the illegal activity.
After conducting the examinations, the issue of declaring suspects under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine will be decided:
- Part 1 of Art. 111-1 (collaborative activity);
- Part 1 of Art. 361 (unauthorized interference in the operation of electronic computing machines (computers), automated systems, computer networks or telecommunication networks).
The detection of bot farms was carried out by SBU employees together with cyber experts and investigators of the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Odessa and Kyiv regional prosecutor's offices.
