Ukraine warns of Russian disinformation via fake government sites

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has warned that Russian intelligence services are deploying a surge of fraudulent websites, social media pages, and messaging channels designed to impersonate Ukrainian government agencies, security forces, media outlets, and high-ranking officials.

These deceptive resources utilize official names, logos, and branding to appear legitimate. The SBU reported that it has already identified and blocked over 50 resources attempting to mimic its own identity. Previous impersonation efforts have targeted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and other senior officials via platforms like Telegram.

According to Ukrainian authorities, these campaigns serve two primary purposes: spreading disinformation to destabilize Ukraine’s political and social landscape and collecting personal data from unsuspecting users. In some instances, operators have repurposed existing Telegram channels, such as those previously dedicated to cryptocurrency, by rebranding them to look like official government communications.