terrorism

Russian intelligence agencies are using digital platforms to recruit Ukrainian citizens for terrorism, targeting vulnerable individuals such as the young, unemployed, and those with antisocial lifestyles. Many recruits face death or imprisonment instead of receiving promised payments. Ukrainian authorities have recorded nine attempted terrorist attacks this year, believed to be orchestrated by Russian intelligence, aiming to destabilize Ukraine and undermine public trust in its security. Telegram is a favored platform for Russian operatives to recruit individuals for disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks. Additionally, a recent espionage initiative recruited Ukrainian teenagers under the guise of “quest games” to gather intelligence for Russian forces. In September, a local individual was arrested for setting up surveillance cameras for Russian intelligence, having been recruited via Telegram with promises of easy money.