The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police, exposed a cynical operation by Russian special services, in which minors from Kharkiv were involved in espionage activities under the guise of a “quest game”.
Details
This scheme became a new tool for the FSB, which allowed it to conduct reconnaissance activities and adjust strikes on the Ukrainian city, using the gullibility of teenagers.
During the special operation, law enforcement officers detained two groups of teenagers, who were only 15 and 16 years old.
Each group acted independently of the other, and their tasks were to collect data on strategic objects in Kharkiv.
The FSB attackers transmitted the coordinates of the locations via anonymous chats, and the teenagers, under the guise of completing “quest tasks”, photographed and described objects of critical infrastructure and positions of the Ukrainian Air defense.
The data collected by the children were passed on to Russian curators, who later used this information for targeted air strikes on Kharkiv.
In addition to intelligence, the intelligence groups were tasked with setting fire to transformer substations that ensure the delivery of military echelons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the eastern front. These actions were aimed at undermining the logistical chains of the Ukrainian army.
The SBU detained teenagers while attempting to photograph air defense facilities.
The organizer of one of the groups has already been charged under Article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — sabotage committed under martial law. He faces life imprisonment.
Law enforcement officers established that the FSB liaison in this operation was an officer of the Krasnodar Krai police of the Russian Federation, who acted in coordination with the Russian special services.