FSB under the guise of the SBU: how Russians are trying to recruit Ukrainians

5 June 2025 12:46

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is sounding the alarm over a new tactic by Russian intelligence services that is attempting to recruit Ukrainians by pretending to be SBU officers. This scheme, known as a “false flag” operation, has rarely been used by the enemy before, but is now being actively used to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. This was reported by the SBU press service, calling on citizens to be vigilant and cautious, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports

According to law enforcement officials, the number of cases when Russians introduce themselves as “SBU officers” and give tasks to be performed allegedly “in the interests of the Ukrainian state” has recently increased. In recent weeks, the SBU has prevented several such crimes.

“This is the so-called “false flag” technique of special operations, which has not been used by the Russian invaders to date, but which they are actively trying to use now,” the SBU said.

How the recruitment scheme works

According to the SBU, Ukrainians are sent a summons via messengers demanding that they appear for questioning by an SBU investigator in connection with an allegedly open criminal proceeding. Usually, the fictitious pretext for this “case” is the purchase of “goods prohibited in Ukraine.”

After that, unknown persons contact the person by phone and offer assistance in “closing the criminal proceedings.” To “resolve this issue,” they demand that the person fulfill the tasks they set:

track the movements of a certain person;
transfer unknown items from one address to another;
to make a money transfer to an unknown card, which is allegedly an account for “donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine”;
purchase the necessary chemical elements and make an improvised explosive device;
set fire to a Defense Forces vehicle or an administrative building;
commit sabotage, etc.

During these contacts, the Russian handlers also demand to install malware on the phone, which is used to monitor the owner of the gadget.

According to the SBU, previously, the priority targets of recruitment by Russian special services were teenagers, and now – the elderly.

“Please note that the Security Service of Ukraine acts exclusively within the framework of the current Ukrainian legislation,” the SBU warned.

What to do in case of suspicious contacts

The Security Service emphasizes that real SBU employees do not require the installation of third-party applications, do not conduct “business correspondence” in messengers, and do not set dubious tasks.

In case of receiving a summons that seems suspicious or contacting unknown people who claim to be SBU officers, law enforcement officials urge to contact the official SBU chatbot: t.me/spaly_fsb_bot. Or report such cases to the SBU hotline: 0 800 501 482.