The SSU has blocked 26 Telegram channels that interfered with the mobilization of Ukrainian citizens of conscription age.

The online resources ‘provided information’ on measures held by the Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support in Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa oblasts.

Primarily, they ‘informed’ about actual places where conscripts were served summons and urged people to hide from military enlistment offices.

The organizers of these ‘Telegram channels’ used a network of informants to collect data on the ‘locations’.

Due to constant ‘updates’, the destructive platforms quickly ‘built up’ numbers of subscribers, exceeding 400,000.

After that, the administrators decided to make some money on it and offered their resources for commercial advertising.

As a result of the investigation, the law enforcement identified all the organizers of the unlawful activity.

Among them are two owners of an SMM company, which promotes Internet resources using so-called ‘bot farms’.

During the searches at the suspects’ homes, the SSU found:

• computers and mobile phones with evidence of the unlawful activity;
• bank cards to which offenders received money for advertising.

At present, six administrators of the destructive Telegram channels are to be served notices of suspicion under the Article 114-1 of the CCU (obstruction of lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations). Court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint.

The offenders are facing up to 10 years in prison.

The operation was carried under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Offices in Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi regions.