Scheme involving thousands of SIM cards for Russian drones uncovered in Ukraine: what is known
16 May 02:32
The State Financial Monitoring Service, in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine, has uncovered a scheme in which participants helped Russia use Ukrainian SIM cards in enemy attack drones. According to financial intelligence data, over 24,000 mobile numbers and more than 29,000 transactions in favor of mobile operators were identified in a single case. This was reported by Philip Pronin, head of the State Financial Monitoring Service, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian"
How the scheme worked
According to Pronin, a group of individuals in Ukraine organized the mass purchase and activation of SIM cards. These cards were then transferred to the Russian side.
The occupiers then used them in enemy attack drones for communication, navigation, and more precise targeting of Ukrainian cities, residential buildings, and critical infrastructure.
Following the attacks, law enforcement officials repeatedly found such SIM cards among the wreckage of downed drones.
The scale of the scheme
Financial intelligence has established the significant scale of the operation. In just one case alone, the following were identified:
- over 24,000 mobile numbers;
- more than 29,000 transactions in favor of mobile operators;
- over 60 million UAH that passed through the accounts of the scheme’s participants.
According to the State Financial Monitoring Service, the scheme’s participants included sole proprietors and straw men, often referred to as “mules” in financial investigations. According to financial intelligence, part of the funds was used to purchase real estate and luxury cars.
One of the ringleaders was in the EU
Philip Pronin reported that one of the group’s coordinators was located within the European Union. Financial links between the participants were uncovered thanks to cooperation with financial intelligence agencies in European countries.
This indicates the transnational nature of the scheme and the need for coordination between Ukrainian and foreign agencies.
Why SIM cards in drones are dangerous
The use of mobile numbers in enemy UAVs can help the occupiers maintain communication with the devices and adjust their operations. That is why law enforcement and financial intelligence agencies are tracking not only the people who physically purchased the cards but also the financial flows that could have funded such activities.
Such schemes pose a direct threat to civilian cities, residential buildings, energy facilities, and other critical infrastructure.
Why financial intelligence was brought into the case
The State Financial Monitoring Service analyzes suspicious financial transactions and the movement of funds through the accounts of individuals, sole proprietors, and companies. In this case, it was the financial transactions that helped uncover the scale of the scheme and the connections between its participants.
According to Pronin, schemes involving “drop accounts” can be used not only for fraud or tax evasion but also to finance illegal activities.
Currently, law enforcement agencies are continuing their work to identify all the organizers, coordinators, and perpetrators of the scheme. The SBU and the State Financial Monitoring Service are also analyzing financial links, transactions, and accounts that may have been used to facilitate the transfer of SIM cards to the Russian side.
