SBU cyber specialists blocked the activity of a “botofarm”, which was used for spreading fakes about COVID-19 and appeals to overthrow of constitutional order. The “botofarm” was deployed in one of Dnipro city business-center and managed from Russia.

SBU officers established that the “botofarm” created and managed the allegedly Ukrainians’ accounts in social networks, but, in fact, it used fake personal data. The capacity of the “farm” reaches 5,000 bots.

The organizers bought the hardware and software via banned in Ukraine Russian non-banking payment systems. They also used Ukrainian SIM cards and proxy-servers.

The analysis of the spread content revealed public appeals to forceful overthrow of constitutional order and take-over of government. Additionally, bots spread false information about current pandemic situation in Ukraine.

SBU investigators initiated criminal proceeding under Art. 109 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Law enforcement conducted searches and seized illicit equipment under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Dnipropetrovsk region.

Since the beginning of the quarantine, the Security Service of Ukraine uncovered two “botofarms” managed by Russia in Kyiv and Dnipro cities. The activity of seven agitprops, acting in Russia’s side, is investigated within the criminal proceedings initiated under Art. 109 and Art. 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The National Police is submitted the information on 115 identified users, who spread fakes on coronavirus. They will be prosecuted under Art.173-1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine.