Through "Legytimnyi" and "Rezident" Telegram-channels: SBU exposes intelligence network of Russian special services in Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine exposed the intelligence network, engaged in reconnaissance and sabotage activities commissioned by Russia's secret services.
The SBU press service reported this.
During a long-term special operation, SBU operatives found that the intelligence network was set up by the so-called 85th Main Center of the Special Service of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. It included residents of Kharkiv and Odesa, activists of the so-called "Russian spring." They're currently headquartered on the territory of Russia-controlled "Transnistria," the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic in Tiraspol," the statement reads.
It's noted that the special services of the aggressor country involved Ukrainian citizens in the creation and administration of several political all-Ukrainian and regional Telegram channels. We are talking about the channels "Legitimnyi," "Rezident", "Kartel," "Spletnitsa," "Chornyi Kvartal," "Politicheskiy Rasklad," "Netipichnoye Zaporozhye," "Trempel Kharkov", "Odesskyi Frayer," "Dnepr live," "Nikolaev live," "Kherson live."
They've established that the "general manager" of the intelligence network is an Odesa resident, one of the organizers of mass riots during the Odesa "Anti-Maidan." Currently, he is wanted by law enforcement officers under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
"The defendant personally administers 12 Telegram channels, communicates with customers of posts, reports to Russian curators on the work done, and agrees on the possibility of placing ordered posts. The cost of placing publications ranges from several hundred in regional channels and up to 25-30 thousand hryvnias on all-Ukrainian ones," the message reads.
The SBU stated it had already identified 50 customers who transferred funds for the publication of posts. Their involvement in illegal activities to the detriment of the state's information security is currently being investigated.
According to the conclusions of the linguistic and psychological examination, the posts disseminated in the Telegram channels were aimed at creating panic, aggravation, and destabilization of the socio-political and socio-economic situation. The key task of the executors was to discredit public authorities, influence public policy, artificially create social tension and protest mood among citizens.
It has been established that Russia's special services have allowed network members to organize a monetization mechanism independently.
"They conducted transactions through a network of associates who opened accounts in Ukrainian banks to receive "fees" for the publication of ordered posts. Then the executors converted the money into currency and transferred it to the unrecognized "Transnistria," Moldova or Russia," the statement says.
SBU officers also detained a Ukrainian citizen in Kyiv, one of the key participants in the proceedings. She and another member of the intelligence network were informed about the suspicion of committing a crime under Art. 111 (treason) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Additionally, the operatives received materials that may indicate the involvement of the detained citizen in collecting information constituting a state secret, in the interests of the intelligence services of the Russian Federation.
"An electronic medium with the personal data of numerous law enforcement officers, which was with her during a vacation in the Dominican Republic, was confiscated from her. The Security Service of Ukraine has repeatedly received information on the use of this region for secret meetings of the Russian special services with the intelligence body," the press service added.
Also, the head of the network, who's hiding from the investigation abroad, was declared in absentia for treason.
In turn, the Telegram-channel "Legitimnyi" declared that "the power at the hands of SBU decided to open the actual war against the telegram channels opposing it."
"For this purpose, they used the most convenient trick, accused them of working for the GRU of the Russian Federation! In this way, Kyrylo Tymoshenko (Deputy Head of the OPU – ed.) decided to retaliate for a lot of exposure of corruption at the "Big Construction" in the Ukrainian telegram segment. Evidence of work for Russia, these are "professionally" glued pictures," they said.
And in the "Rezident" Telegram channel, the revelation of the intelligence network was called "a scheme of how to divert attention from Dubinskyi's case by publishing another fake SBU investigation on political telegram channels."
"In the last two weeks, the Syndicate's information campaign has exposed Kyrylo Tymoshenko's billion-dollar corruption in the Big Construction project, which has angered the official, and he decided to follow the scenario discussed last year," the channel wrote.
SBU Photo
