The SSU liquidated bot farms in Kyiv that conducted information sabotage in favour of russian intelligence. Following complex measures, two organisers who massively spread disinformation about the war in Ukraine and tried to artificially discredit the Defence Forces were detained.

To gain this the perpetrators created fake accounts on social media and messengers, in particular in the name of the head of the Security Service and the head of the Defence Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

To make these accounts look 'real' they reposted official posts from the SSU and the DIU websites. In private messages, however, the criminals were luring people out of their money with offers of 'help'.

They also created fake accounts of Ukrainians from different regions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik-Tok, as well as on russian Odnoklassniki and Vkontakte. In total, the bot farm's capacity allowed its organisers to generate more than 1,000 fake accounts daily.

To administer them, the offenders installed specialised software and hardware systems in their own homes.

The criminals coordinated their actions with representatives of russian intelligence, from whom they received 'manuals' for subversive activities.

In this way, the enemy hoped to undermine the socio-political situation in Ukraine and damage our country's image on the international scene.

During the search of the detainees’ homes, the SSU found:

• Specialised equipment for 'generating' fake Internet addresses;
• SIM cards of mobile operators used to register controlled accounts.

Unregistered firearms with ammunition and hand grenades were also seized from the perpetrators.

SSU investigators have served both detainees a notice of suspicion under Article 263-1 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The offenders are in custody. The process of further qualification of their criminal actions and bringing to justice other persons involved in hostile bot farms continues.

The offenders face up to 7 years in prison.

The investigation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.