The military counterintelligence of Ukraine’s State Security Service (SBU) has documented numerous attempts to recruit Ukrainian troops by representatives of the Russian intelligence services and the so-called “MGB DPR” and “MGB LPR” (“Ministries of State Security” of “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic”) via establishing personal contacts in social networks disguised as female, the SBU press center has reported.
“It was established that through one of the social networks a person controlled by the Russian intelligence services established and maintained contacts with the Ukrainian troops. The woman, during the development of supposedly personal relations, found out about his service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After that, she tried to get military and socio-political information from the officer. During messaging she suggested that the Ukrainian troop collects information in the interests of [Russia’s] FSB [State Security Service] in exchange for money, especially emphasizing the material advantage of cooperation with the Russian intelligence services. The woman said that if important data are provided to representatives of the foreign side, the troop will be provided with access to the Russian Federation with the possibility of obtaining housing,” the SBU said.
After receiving such a proposal, the soldier turned to the Ukrainian intelligence services and provided detailed evidence about the circumstances of his recruitment.
The SBU appeals to Ukrainian users of social networks with a request to be vigilant and, if recruiting offers are received from foreign intelligence agencies, contact the Ukrainian intelligence agencies.
