In Dnipropetrovsk region, the Security Service of Ukraine uncovered the regional branch of the all-Ukrainian network of "trolls", which distributed through social networks materials that could affect the election process, and called for the violation of the territorial integrity of our state.

Cyber ​​specialists and investigators of the special service have documented residents of Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad who are administrators of social media groups and have distributed anti-Ukrainian materials on the Internet. This information, according to experts, contains calls to change the boundaries of the territory or state border of Ukraine.

During the last month, SBU officers conducted a series of investigative actions, as a result of which they blocked the illegal activities of several Internet provocateurs.

Law enforcement officers additionally established that the perpetrators were actively corresponding with residents of Russia and the so-called ORDLO, who set them the task of distributing fake materials about the upcoming elections in Ukraine and candidates for local self-government. They also planned to escalate social tensions in the region and provoke mass violations of public order.

SBU cyber specialists have already identified one of the coordinators, who is a native of Dnipropetrovsk region and joined the DNR separatists in May 2014.

According to cyber security experts, the use of "trolls" by residents of settlements controlled by the Ukrainian authorities gives curators the opportunity to adapt the material and comments to the local situation.

Currently, SBU investigators are continuing the pre-trial investigation into criminal proceedings initiated under Art. 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The criminals could face from 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.

Detection and blocking of illegal activities were carried out by officers of the SBU Office in Dnipropetrovsk region in coordination with the SBU Cyber Security Department and the Dnipropetrovsk Region Prosecutor's Office.