In Vinnytsia, the SSU blocked a large bot farm that worked for the aggressor state. Three of its organizers have been detained.

Special equipment enabled the offenders to register up to 500 anonymous accounts every day in various social networks, including those banned in Ukraine.

The bots were sold or leased to russian SMM agencies operating under ‘protection’ of russian special services.

The organizers of the ‘farm’ earned up to UAH 20 per day just by ‘renting’ one account, receiving the money to their crypto wallets and bank cards.

According to the investigation, the bot farm’s russian ‘clients’ used the fake accounts to massively spread pro-kremlin narratives, e.g. on the events at the frontline and the socio-political situation in Ukraine.

russian online agitators also used the bots to justify russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and call to support ruscists, including internationally.

To do this, they threw in their information ‘input’ on behalf of supposedly ‘ordinary’ citizens living in Ukraine and the EU.

According to the investigation, the bot farm was set up by three Vinnytsia residents, who installed specialized equipment in a rented garage.

During the searches at the garage and the suspects’ homes, investigators found:

• computer equipment with evidence of the crime;
• 3,000 SIM cards of Ukrainian and European mobile operators;
• 13 SIM gateways, other equipment and software;
• bank cards to which payments from ‘clients’ were received.

All seized equipment has been sent for examination. The offenders are to be notified of suspicion under Article 361.5 of the CCU (unauthorized interference in the operation of electronic computers, automated systems, computer networks or telecommunication networks).

The investigation is ongoing. The suspects are facing up to 15 years in prison.

The SSU Office in Vinnytsia region carried out the operation and investigation jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.