Russia's spying on Ukraine explained: Two countries may be involved, expert says
Photo: Russian military (Getty Images)
Russia is using a wide range of intelligence methods to monitor the situation in Ukraine, including analysis of open sources and the work of agents, said military expert and former SBU officer Ivan Stupak in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
How surveillance is conducted
According to the expert, Russia actively monitors Ukraine’s information space.
The focus is on public statements, broadcasts, and any mentions by officials. Photos and videos are analyzed, including officials’ visits to enterprises and other infrastructure sites.
The use of OSINT methods - collecting data from open sources - can also be used.
Working with open data
Particular attention is paid to gathering information from public channels and media.
According to the expert, Russia deploys significant resources to process such data, allowing it to build a picture of what is happening inside the country.
Role of neighboring states
It is also noted that territories of neighboring countries may be involved in the process.
In particular, cooperation with Belarus is mentioned, which is viewed as a potential source of threat.
It is also highlighted that in the past, certain risks were associated with Hungary, including possible access to information from border regions, particularly Transcarpathia.
Monitoring military activity
According to the expert, technical indicators of activity are also tracked, including Ukrainian pilot takeoffs and the movement of the equipment toward the front line.
Such information, he said, can be monitored from various directions, including Ukraine’s western regions.
Internal factor
It is also emphasized that part of the information may come from people inside the country. According to the expert, there have been cases of Ukrainian citizens being recruited for money, creating additional risks of data leaks during wartime.
Over the past day, Ukrainian forces carried out a series of strikes on Russian positions in temporarily occupied territories, hitting an ammunition depot, multiple-launch rocket systems, and command posts.
Lithuania’s intelligence services reported uncovering a network of Russian GRU agents. According to the investigation, its members were collecting information on military infrastructure, planning attacks, and preparing acts of sabotage against equipment intended for transfer to Ukraine.
