Special services of the Russian Federation recruit Ukrainian children to send fakes for replacement - SBU

"The Security Service has documented numerous attempts by the Russian Federation to loosen the internal situation in Ukraine through fake reports of" mining "of infrastructure in different settlements of our country," the message reads. According to law enforcement officers, most of the information about pseudoomation came as an online message from the territory of Russia, as well as from Ukrainian subscribers.

It was found that Russian intelligence services are increasingly attracting minor children to send terrorist messages. For the recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers, the occupiers use the prohibited social network "VKontakte", controlled Telegram channels and playing online platform. The SBU added that it is on these resources that Russian special services are introduced to users and offer them cooperation.

"Very often, the enemy uses the methods of blackmail and psychological manipulations to the subversive activity, as well as offers money," the SBU said, before sending reports of fake miners, children receive a list of priority objects in Ukraine from Russian curators. To maintain the anonymity of the sheets, they are sent using specialized software.

In particular, two high school students were exposed in Cherkasy, who reported in July this year about the "mining" of the regional military administration and the city shopping center. According to the investigation, the boys operated at the instructions of the FSB representatives who recruited both students through Russian-controlled Telegram channels.

"Investigations under Article 259 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (deliberately false notice of the threat of citizens' safety, destruction or damage to property) are ongoing and other facts," the posts. The sanction of the article provides up to 8 years in prison. If the attacker is not 16 years old, his or her parents or persons who replace them will be responsible for the crime.