SSU detains collaborators who helped FSB take control of Internet traffic in temporarily occupied Donetsk
In Kyiv, the SSU’s cyber units have detained the heads of the russian-controlled Internet provider from Donetsk. The perpetrators cooperated with the aggressor in the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine, but also tried to ‘legalize’ themselves in Kyiv.
According to the investigation, their Internet provider ensures communications to the staffs of russian troops, the local occupation administration and the so-called ‘security bloc’ of the terrorist organization ‘DNR’.
The detained officials also helped the FSB to take control of a significant part of the Internet traffic in the temporarily occupied Donetsk. The FSB’s specialized equipment has been installed on the providers’ servers, which allows the russian service to monitor all online activities of the region’s civilian population.
The invaders are using a hardware and software system to monitor the traffic of Internet connections and to identify users.
The FSB uses the obtained data to recruit local residents for reconnaissance and sabotage activities against Ukraine.
The investigation revealed that the company’s founder is a former soviet KGB officer. Before the start of russia's full-scale invasion, he and his subordinate moved from Donetsk region to Kyiv.
While in the capital, they remotely controlled the internet provider, which was re-registered under russian law and licensed by roskomnadzor.
Upon orders of the detained individuals, the management of the suspects’ companies in the temporarily occupied territory regularly pays ‘taxes and fees’ to the russian budget.
During the searches of the suspects’ homes in Kyiv, the SSU found:
- computers, mobile phones, flash drives, documents and records with evidence of the crimes;
- cash in various currencies amounting to USD 120,000.
The SSU has notified the detainees of suspicion under Article 111-2 of the CCU (aiding the aggressor state).
The suspects are in custody and face up to 15 years in prison.
The investigation is ongoing.
The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
