Ukraine uncovers Russian spy network recruiting teens for espionage

The Ukrainian security service (SBU) has uncovered a new suspected espionage campaign by Russian intelligence services involving the recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers for criminal activities disguised as "quest games."

During an operation in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, local law enforcement arrested two groups of alleged Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents, all of whom were 15- and 16-years-old.

The teenagers were allegedly tasked with carrying out espionage, directing missile strikes, and committing arson on behalf of Russian operatives. To conceal their activities, the groups operated independently from one another, according to an SBU statement released on Friday.

Under the guise of "quest game" rules devised by the FSB — where players complete tasks as part of a game —  the minors were given geolocation coordinates and were instructed to travel to those locations, take photographs and videos of targets, and provide brief descriptions of the areas to Russian spies via anonymous messaging apps, Ukrainian authorities said.

Russian armed forces reportedly used this data to coordinate airstrikes in Kharkiv

The suspected spies were allegedly photographing Ukrainian air defense facilities when they were arrested. One of the group's leaders could face a life sentence in prison.

Ukraine’s courts have also charged a police officer from Russia’s Krasnodar region in absentia for his alleged involvement in the operation believed to be carried out in cooperation with the FSB. Authorities pledged to bring other members of the network to justice.

In Ukraine, individuals as young as 14 can face criminal responsibility for terrorism or sabotage, with sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

Recruiting minors and masking their tasks as a game is one of many tactics Russia is known to use to recruit Ukrainians for espionage. 

In September, the SBU detained a local resident suspected of setting up surveillance cameras near critical infrastructure, allegedly enabling Russian intelligence to monitor these sites. The individual was reportedly recruited by Russia’s military intelligence service (GRU) via the social messaging app Telegram, lured by promises of "easy" money.

In August, law enforcement officials detained the suspected leader of an organized group that allegedly set fire to the cars of Ukrainian enlistment officers at the request of Russian intelligence. The individual reportedly advertised additional services to Russia on the darknet.

In June, two Ukrainians were arrested for allegedly assisting Russian intelligence by spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda and hacking the phones of Ukrainian soldiers.

The SBU announced on Friday the launch of an official Telegram chatbot called "Burn an FSB Agent," designed to counter Russian attempts to recruit youth, including minors, for sabotage and terrorism. Ukrainians can use the bot to report details of crimes they were asked to commit by Russians, as well as information about recruiters and other relevant details.