Control over mobile communications and the Internet is a characteristic feature of the russian counterintelligence regime in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Andrii Cherniak, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, described the current threats to our citizens in the occupation, as well as the methods used by muscovites to identify pro-Ukrainian residents.

In a commentary for journalists of the Rada TV channel, he reminded that the russians had reprogrammed Ukrainian mobile and internet equipment in the occupied territories to be used for surveillance.

“When the occupiers seized these territories, they simply stole all the equipment and facilities, reprogrammed them and are now using them as their own. All this is done for total control and bugging of the residents of the occupied territories,” said Andrii Cherniak.

According to him, the russians are trying to record every case of using Internet resources or messengers banned by the occupation authorities. Sometimes the occupiers block entire districts to identify the user.

“There are cases when, after blocking entire districts where someone has entered a social network, they simply arrest all the people and put them in prison. And among them they try to find out who accessed the Internet, where and what information they transmitted or received,” said the representative of the Military Intelligence of Ukraine.

Another method of the russian occupiers is to create fake pages that act as bait.

“The occupiers are trying to create fake information resources, fake accounts that are as similar as possible to the DIU's resources so that people can go there and the occupation authorities can find and arrest them,” said the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

Andrii Cherniak called on Ukrainian patriots, who are being in the occupation, not to lose their vigilance and stressed that anyone who wants to help Ukraine can use the contacts and security instructions posted on the official DIU resources.