Russians increasingly recruit children for fake minings - SBU

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine.

More than 2,000 anonymous threats to bomb state institutions, schools, hospitals and other places of mass gatherings of people have been recorded in Ukraine since the beginning of 2023.

Most of the information about pseudomining came as an Internet message from the territory of Russia, as well as from Ukrainian "subscribers". It has been established that Russian special services are increasingly involving underage children to send terrorist messages," the SBU said.

The Russians recruited Ukrainian teenagers using the banned social network Vkontakte, online gaming platforms and controlled Telegram channels. On these resources, representatives of enemy special services got acquainted with children and offered them cooperation.

Very often, to induce children to subversive activities, the enemy uses blackmail and psychological manipulation methods, as well as offers easy money," the SBU added.

The occupants sent a list of "priority" sites in Ukraine to send messages about pseudo-mining. It is known that the "letters" were sent using specialised software to preserve anonymity. However, the SBU identifies the attackers, documents their activities and brings them to justice.

This is how two high school students in Cherkasy were exposed to "mining" of the regional military administration and the city shopping centre in July this year. The young men recruited in Telegram acted on the instructions of the FSB representatives.

Investigations into pseudomining are qualified under Article 259 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (knowingly false report of a threat to the safety of citizens, destruction or property damage). The sanction of the article provides for a punishment of up to 8 years of imprisonment. If the perpetrator is under 16, his parents or their substitutes will be responsible for the offence.