**Ukraine Teaches Teenagers to Avoid Russian Intelligence Recruitment**
In a surprising move, Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has started teaching teenagers how to avoid being recruited by Russian intelligence online. This initiative was reported by the New York Times on June 21.
According to SBU spokesperson Roksolana Yavorska-Isaienko, teenagers are vulnerable targets for Russian intelligence. “The enemy is not sleeping… They are working actively and carrying out illegal activities directly inside your phones,” she warned students. The SBU has reportedly been training teens on how to identify and avoid online recruitment tactics.
**Russian Intelligence Targets Ukrainian Civilians**
Russian intelligence agencies have been actively trying to recruit Ukrainian civilians online, offering them easy money in exchange for sensitive information or tasks such as sabotage or terrorism. Unbeknownst to many, social media platforms like Telegram, Discord, and TikTok are being used by Russian agents to find recruits.
Teenagers are often lured into conducting simpler tasks, such as delivering packages or taking photos of energy sites, which can eventually lead to more serious assignments. Once blackmailed or their phones hacked, teenagers may be coerced into carrying out more significant operations.
**Russian Intelligence Targets Ukraine Across the EU**
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) has warned that Russian intelligence is actively recruiting Ukrainian nationals for illegal operations across the European Union. This recruitment is seen as another tool of hybrid aggression used by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the entire European community.
**Recent Examples of Russian Recruitment Efforts**
In recent weeks, several incidents have highlighted the extent of Russian recruitment efforts in Ukraine. A Russian agent was caught filming a military airfield in preparation for a Russian strike, while an unemployed 24-year-old was recruited via Telegram to collect coordinates for air attacks on airfields and logistic depots.
**What’s at Stake?**
The recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers by Russian intelligence raises serious concerns about national security and the safety of citizens. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, it is essential that young people are aware of these risks and take steps to protect themselves from online manipulation.
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