The FSB of Russia informed RIA Novosti about the recruitment of five elderly women by Ukrainian special services through WhatsApp and Telegram messengers. According to the agency, the perpetrators posed as employees of Russian security agencies.
The FSB noted that Ukrainian special services deliberately target pensioners because they are easier to eliminate and avoid paying promised funds. Additionally, the elderly women were deceived into transferring money from their accounts and selling their apartments.
Communication between the recruiters and the pensioners occurred through internal calls in the messengers. "Representatives of Ukrainian special services introduced themselves as employees of the FSB, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Investigative Committee, military prosecutor's office, and other Russian agencies, using professional terminology and psychological manipulation techniques," the statement said.
The victims, hoping to recover their lost savings, participated in surveilling Russian military personnel and handed them disguised explosive devices. The FSB believes such operations could have resulted in the deaths of the perpetrators themselves.