The SBU cyber security blocked an online bot farm in Kyiv, which was sponsored from the territory of Russia.

The SBU found that the perpetrators used specialized hardware and software to create and promote fake accounts on social networks. The bots disseminated false information to manipulate public opinion before the local elections. To operate the bot farm, the perpetrators used SIM cards of Ukrainian mobile operators.

The Security Service of Ukraine also established that the bot farm was used by certain political forces for black PR against their opponents.

During the searches, the law enforcement officers seized computer equipment with specialized software and telecommunications equipment. In particular, four 32-Port GSM gateways, three SIM banks with a capacity of 128 channels, three SIM banks with a capacity of 32 channels, five VoIP gateways with a capacity of 32 channels. The law enforcement also seized more than 6,000 SIM-cards, draft records of registration of social networks users, which posted provocative materials to the detriment of information security of Ukraine.

The investigation is ongoing under Art. 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the SBU investigators check whether representatives of Russian special services were involved in the bot farm functioning.

The operation was conducted by the Department of Counterintelligence Protection of State Information Security, the SBU Main Office in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the SBU Main Office in Kyiv city and Kyiv region, under the supervision of Donetsk Region Prosecutor's Office.