Immediately after the russian air attack on 2 January, the SSU identified the addresses and dismantled the webcams that broadcast the operation of air defence systems and locations of Kyiv’s critical infrastructure.

These were two robotic online surveillance cameras that had been hacked by the russian intelligence services to spy on Ukraine’s Defence Forces in the capital.

One of the devices was located on a balcony of an apartment building and was used by a local condominium to monitor the surrounding area.

Through hacking, the aggressor gained remote access to control this webcam. After tampering with its settings, the russian intelligence services changed the viewing angle and connected it to the YouTube streaming platform.

In this way, the occupiers covertly recorded all visual information within the camera’s range.

Another surveillance device was blocked at a residential complex in Kyiv. Local residents were using it to monitor the adjacent car park.

SSU cyber units established that the enemy had remotely controlled the webcam to covertly record the view of the surrounding area, including critical infrastructure facilities.

The aggressor used these cameras to collect data to prepare and adjust strikes on Kyiv.

Based on the uncovered facts, the SSU is acting to neutralize new attempts by the invaders to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage through online cameras.

In total, since russia’s full-scale invasion, the SSU has blocked the operation of about 10,000 IP cameras that the enemy could have used to adjust missile attacks on Ukraine.

The SSU is calling on the owners of street webcams to stop online broadcasts from their devices, and on citizens to report any streams from such cameras to the SSU’s official chatbot: t.me/stop_russian_war_bot.

Remember: it is forbidden to film and publish photos and videos of the operation of the Defence Forces and the consequences of enemy attacks.

The publication of such material on the Internet is considered to be adjustment of enemy fire and is subject to criminal liability. The offence is punishable under Article 114-2 of the CCU by up to 12 years of imprisonment.