The Security Service of Ukraine is successfully countering a Russian plan called “Sabotage Noise,” personally authorized by Putin, which involves carrying out sabotage and terrorist acts across Ukraine.
This was reported by SSU head, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk, in an interview with the We Are Ukraine TV channel.
“It all started with car arsons, then they began using improvised explosive devices. However, we prevent this very effectively. Almost 80% of such enemy criminal acts are detected preemptively; we stop them in advance. The institute of double agents plays a very important role here. The enemy firmly believes there is a source, but in reality, it’s our patriotic citizens. We have created an intelligence ‘cap’ over each region. It allows us to control the situation and timely detain enemy accomplices,” he said.
According to Maliuk, the fight against Russian espionage networks is under the personal supervision of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A separate important direction for the SSU is self-purification from Russian influence. The head of state personally oversaw investigations involving Kozyura and Kulinich.
“Kozyura was truly a top-level agent. We documented him for a long time, during which we carried out 14 episodes of controlled disinformation to the enemy. In other words, we deliberately gave him information that he passed to the other side. The FSB applauded, thinking they had obtained top-level data. In reality, we misled them. At a certain stage, everything reached its logical conclusion, and a decision was made to detain him. Kulinich is also imprisoned. Our counterintelligence and investigation work effectively, and I thank them for that,” emphasized the SBU chief.
Maliuk said the SSU continues active cooperation with Western partners, which allows them to neutralize Russian IPSO operations. For example, jointly with international partners, the SBU dismantled the organization “Voice of Europe,” created by Viktor Medvedchuk and former CEO of channel 112, Artem Marchevskyi, and also, through international cooperation, detained and returned propagandist Kyrylo Molchanov to Ukraine.
“I especially thank the Czech counterintelligence units, with whom, together with our DZND unit and investigators, we documented this organization. Sanctions were imposed on these individuals, and the entire operation was shut down. Regarding Molchanov, it was an interesting counterintelligence and operational operation. He traveled to Europe from Russia executing FSB 5th Service tasks and was to organize anti-Ukrainian rallies there. With Polish colleagues, we carried out a fully legal operation, and at the checkpoint in Ukraine, he was charged,” Maliuk said.
He also noted that over the past year, Russia spent $4.6 billion on an information war against Ukraine. Additionally, Russia has 19 institutions working to influence Ukrainian citizens.
“Under current conditions, we must turn the country into a ‘steel porcupine.’ Our war is a war of good versus evil. Good always prevails, as we understand, and we are the good in this situation. That is why we work and do our job,” Maliuk concluded.
