Russian Federation Behind Wave of Fake Bomb Threats Across Ukraine Trying to Shatter Situation From Within

Russia’s special services are actively using fake bomb threats of social and critical infrastructure facilities as one of the elements of a hybrid war to step up pressure on Ukraine.

In 2021, the Security Service of Ukraine recorded more than 1,100 knowingly false anonymous reports. Since the beginning of 2022, more than 300 such reports have been received. So far, none of them has been confirmed after thorough checks.

The Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the National Police and representatives of other law enforcement agencies, actively counteracts such manifestations. Since the beginning of 2021, 313 people, who reported on fake bomb threats, have been identified.

The goal of the special services of the aggressor country is clear: to create conditions for additional pressure on Ukraine, to sow anxiety and panic in society. Unfortunately, such informational and psychological special operations are the realities of modern hybrid wars, and we must be aware of that.

According to preliminary information, Ukrainian citizens acting for hooligan motives or for fun, not fully aware of all the possible consequences, are involved in the wave of fake bomb reports.

Attackers try to send messages using software allegedly ensuring their anonymity. At the same time, most messages were sent by Internet users located in neighbouring post-Soviet countries or the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Natalia Tolub