Since the beginning of 2024, Russia has significantly increased its efforts to recruit Ukrainians to carry out terrorist attacks, sabotage, and obstruct the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Deputy head of the National Police of Ukraine, Andrii Nebytov, said this on the air of the telethon.
"From the beginning of 2024, the special services of the Russian Federation began actively recruiting our citizens through social networks with the aim of committing acts of terrorism, damaging property, obstructing the legitimate activities of the Armed Forces and, of course, committing acts of sabotage. If we take individual cases of setting fire to the cars of military personnel, then as of today we have recorded 341 such crimes," Nebytov noted.
Russian special services use social networks to attract Ukrainians to illegal activities. Through manipulations and provocations, they incite people to commit acts of terrorism and set fire to the property of military personnel. In 219 cases, paliyams have already been informed of suspicions.
Unlike the previous year, when such actions were isolated, in 2024 this activity became systemic. The peak of crimes occurred in the spring-summer period, but thanks to preventive and operational measures, it was possible to reduce their number.
According to Nebytov, the number of military vehicles set on fire is only the tip of the iceberg. Recruitment covers a wider range of activities, including organizing terrorist attacks, damaging infrastructure and spreading fake news to destabilize the situation in Ukraine.
"Mass, systematic work by the special services of the Russian Federation began precisely at the beginning of 2024. The majority of these cases occurred in the spring and summer, but thanks to the arrests of certain participants, the number of crimes was significantly reduced," he added.
The National Police of Ukraine urges citizens to be cautious and not to succumb to provocations on social networks. It is important to report suspicious activity to reduce the risk of recruitment.
