The SSU has shut down a large pro-kremlin bot farm in Zaporizhzhia.

Several thousand bots were spinning disinformation about the situation at the southern front, popularizing russian occupation troops and asking for donations to support them.

They also discredited the command of Ukrainian Defence Forces and incited Ukrainians to evade mobilization.

The Telegram channel of the enemy propagandist Rogov from Melitopol occupation administration was used as a primary source for spreading destructive content.

When the bot farm was launched, it had almost 2,000 fake accounts that spread pro-russian narratives supposedly on behalf of local residents.

Further, the enemy ‘cell’ was supposed to become a ‘striking force’ in conducting large-scale information sabotage in the frontline areas of the region.

According to the investigation, the unlawful activity was organized by a local specialist in information and telecommunication technologies.

He installed the computer equipment for sabotage activities in rented office premises in downtown Zaporizhzhia.

The specialized equipment enabled the organizer to register new anonymous accounts in social networks, including those banned in Ukraine, every day.

During the search of the ‘bot farm’ office, the SSU found:

• computer equipment with evidence of the unlawful activity;
• 2,500 SIM cards of Ukrainian mobile operators;
• SIM gateways and other specialized equipment and software.

The seized items have been sent for forensic examination.

Criminal proceeding was opened under the Article 361.2 of the CCU (unauthorized interference in operation of computers, automated systems, computer or telecommunication networks). The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the offence and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The SSU Zaporizhzhia Office exposed the crime under the supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.