Security Service of Ukraine informs that Russia recruits Ukrainian children through a smartphone game
The Security Service of Ukraine stated that it had discovered a mobile game through which users were manipulated into sharing geolocation and real photos of strategic objects. The name of the game is not named by the Security Service, but it is reported that under its terms, participants are looking for so-called “boxes” with virtual prizes that can be exchanged for electronic money.
During the route, children take photos of the area, including military and critical infrastructure in various settlements. Quest participants upload all information on the geolocations to the database of the game application. At the same time, according to the State Emergency Service, an IT company that has access to the administration of this application is controlled by the intelligence services of the Russian Federation, which is registered in one of the European countries and distributes interactive platforms.
In the Kirovohrad region, the Security Service has already detained two teenagers who were photographing checkpoints, elevators, and transport routes in the region. Both minors are residents of the town of Zhovti Vody in the Dnipro region. An interactive application was installed on their smartphones, where they planned to upload taken photos with the geolocation.