Ukraine’s Security Service exposes bot farm that worked for Russian secret services and spread fake news

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has exposed a pro-Russian bot farm that worked for the Kremlin, spreading fake news about the situation on the contact line and discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Source: Press service of SSU; press service of the Prosecutor's Office in Khmelnytskyi Oblast Details: The investigation reports that the bot farm was organised by a resident of the town of Kamianets-Podilskyi, a former policeman.

A pro-Russian bot farm consisted of over 2,000 bots that discredited the Defence Forces of Ukraine and the military and political leadership of Ukraine, spread disinformation about the situation on the contact line, and called upon Ukrainians to avoid the military draft.

The main "clients" of the bot farm were members of the Russian secret services. They bought fake accounts and used them on popular social media platforms, pretending to be ordinary Ukrainians. The SSU reports that the detainee set up a hardware-software complex for "raising" bots in his own apartment.

With the help of special equipment, he was able to create hundreds of anonymous accounts every day. He received payments for "renting" fake accounts through Russian electronic payment systems. The aggressor was conducting information sabotage in order to destabilise the internal political situation in the western oblasts of Ukraine.

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During the search, the SSU seized his computer equipment, 240 SIM cards from different mobile operators, special equipment and software and sent them for expert examination.

The detainee will be served with a notice of suspicion under Article 361.5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorised interference into the work of computers, automated systems, computer networks or electronic connection networks).

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