FSB shuts 100 Ukrainian-linked spy channels since September 2025

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported that since September 2025, it has shut down approximately 100 communication channels allegedly used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit Russian citizens for sabotage operations and remote fraud.

During operations across 43 regions of the Russian Federation, more than 200 Russian and foreign citizens were detained for organising the illegal operation of SIM boxes, topping up the balances of SIM cards used in them, illegally distributing subscriber numbers of Russian telecom operators, and providing services for registering online accounts. 

Over 220 SIM boxes and more than 54,000 SIM cards and chips used in criminal activities were seized. The detainees carried out these illegal activities for financial compensation received from foreign handlers, as confirmed by communications stored on the seized devices, according to FSB.

By Jeyhun Aghazada