The Security Service of Ukraine informs about new tactics used by russian intelligence services in their attempts to recruit Ukrainians. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of cases where the enemy presents itself as an ‘SSU officer’ and sets criminal tasks to be carried out supposedly ‘in the interests of the Ukrainian state.’

This is a so-called ‘false flag’ tactic, which has not been used by russia, although it is now trying apply this method.

Over the past few weeks, the SSU has prevented several such crimes and urges Ukrainians to be vigilant and not to succumb to enemy provocations.

Another recruitment tactic increasingly used by russian special services involves sending citizens a message via instant messenger demanding that they appear for questioning by an SSU investigator in connection with supposedly a ‘criminal case’. The usual pretext for this ‘case’ is the purchase of ‘goods prohibited in Ukraine.’

After that, unknown persons contact the citizen by phone and offer to help ‘close the criminal case.’ To do that, they demand that the citizen carry out the tasks they set:

• follow the movements of a certain person;
• deliver unknown items from one address to another;
• make a money transfer to an unknown card, which is presented as an account for ‘donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine’;
• purchase the necessary chemical elements and manufacture an improvised explosive device;
• set fire to a Defense Forces vehicle or administrative building;
• carry out sabotage, etc.

During these contacts, russian handlers also demand that malicious software be installed on the phone, which they use to monitor the owner of the device.

While teenagers used to be the priority targets for russian intelligence, they are now targeting elderly people as well.

Please note that the Security Service of Ukraine acts exclusively within the current Ukrainian legislation. Representatives of the SSU do not require installation of third-party software on phones and do not give any suspicious ‘tasks’ under any circumstances.

If you receive a summons that seems suspicious or are contacted by unknown individuals claiming to be SSU personnel, please contact the SSU official chatbot: t.me/spaly_fsb_bot. Alternatively, report such cases to the SSU hotline: 0 800 501 482.