The SSU has dismantled a channel for spreading pro-russian propaganda among citizens of Ukraine and the EU member-states.

As a result of an operation in Dnipro, the SSU shut down a bot farm, controlled by russian special services, which massively spread disinformation on the socio-political situation in European countries.

The clandestine entity also ‘campaigned’ to support the aggressor state and spread calls to seize state power in Ukraine.

To conduct information sabotage, occupiers created almost 10,000 fake accounts using this bot farm. For this purpose, sim-cards of Ukrainian, russian and European mobile operators were used.

According to the investigation, a resident of Dnipro, who has long worked in the IT, is involved in the organization of this unlawful activity. After the full-scale invasion, the woman was contacted by an officer of russian special services and offered to work covertly for the occupiers.

Following instructions of her moscow supervisor, the offender set up a bot farm. The necessary telecommunication equipment was installed in a rented apartment.

Using specialized software, the farm administrator registered daily up to 100 fictitious accounts on the Internet.

Through them, she ‘generated’ manipulative content in social networks, including fake comments of ‘famous experts’ and ‘political scientists’. To prepare pro-kremlin posts, the woman used material from russian propaganda Internet resources.

For her subversive activities, the organizer of the bot farm received money from russia.

The SSU also identified instances of remote administration of the enemy telecommunication node directly from russia.

During the searches of the location of the bot farm, the SSU found:

• sets of GSM-gateways for account registration;
• computer equipment with software for the bot farm operation;
• sim-cards of mobile operators.

SSU investigators notified the perpetrator of suspicion of offence under Article 109 of the CCU (actions aimed at forceful change or overthrow of constitutional order or seizure of state power).

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Dnipropetrovsk region.