The SSU has uncovered new facts confirming that russia is involving minors in subversive activities against Ukraine, even amidst the ongoing war.

The SSU has blocked the criminal activity of a teenage group involved in a series of anonymous fake bomb threats in the capital and other regions of Ukraine.

The teenagers mostly reported about ‘threats of explosions’ in government buildings and social infrastructure facilities.

In October 2022, they simultaneously informed about such ‘threats’ in 14 local courts.

According to the investigation, the group’s unlawful activity was coordinated by russian special services.

To do this, they set up a specialized online community, which regularly involved minors from different regions of Ukraine.

Following the enemy instructions, teenagers sent false bomb alerts to email addresses of government agencies.

In this way, the aggressor was trying to undermine the internal situation in Ukraine.

Investigators established that the anonymous e-mails had been sent using special software to hide sender’s location.

As a result of the investigation, the SSU identified the group’s organizer:  a minor in Chernihiv oblast.

The offender had contacts with a representative of a russian special service, who communicated with the teenager via a messenger app and gave him instructions.

During the search at the minor’s home, the SSU found a mobile phone and a computer with evidence of the offence and of his communication with the aggressor.

Criminal proceeding was opened under Article 259.2 of the CCU (knowingly false report of a threat to citizens’ safety, threat of destruction or damage to critical infrastructure, buildings or structures that ensure functioning of government, healthcare, education, or if the false report caused serious consequences or is repeated). The investigation is ongoing.

The offence is punishable by up to 8 years in prison.

Importantly, if minors commit such an offence, it is their parents who will be held accountable before the law.

The SSU Offices in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Kyiv and Kyiv region carried out the activities jointly with the National Police under the supervision of Vyshhorod District Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv region.