Washington Post: Russia launched a spy operation on misinformation of the Ukrainians in 2014

Washington Post: Russia launched a spy operation on misinformation of the Ukrainians in 2014

The events of the revolution of dignity, which took place in Ukraine almost 4 years ago, still remains a big question mark. Until the end nobody knows what was the true impact of what is happening on the former main ally of Ukraine – the Russian Federation. But, perhaps, edition of the Washington Post was able to shed some light on this.

According to a secret report of the Main Directorate of the General staff (GRU) of the Russian Federation, which was in the Washington Post, immediately after the final political collapse and the escape of President Viktor Yanukovych out of the country, Moscow has launched a covert operation to influence the citizens of Ukraine. Her goal was for 6 days to motivate the people for military action in the Crimea.

Washington Post: Russia launched a spy operation on misinformation of the Ukrainians in 2014

The operation began on Saturday evening, February 22, 2014, when the man, who called himself Ivan by Kalininym, posted a few comments under the articles in English-language publications. The meaning of what he said was that Ukraine supposedly there was a military coup and came to power by armed nationalists.

According to the documents of the GRU, in reality, there was no Galitsin and his name wrote a psychologist serving in the intelligence of the Russian Federation. His profile was created on the same day, and the photos of the nonexistent person, he used the Konstantin Yaroshenko, a convicted Russian drug dealer who is serving a sentence in an American prison.

Team GRU is targeting 30 Ukrainian groups and platforms in the social networks, as well as 25 «the leading English-language» publications. All comments generated by spies, the demonstrators on the Maidan was called «zapadentsev», «Nazis» and «fascists».

According to the report, 27 February, when the Crimean Parliament building has been captured, GRU has created 4 groups on Facebook and VK to encourage Crimeans support secession from Ukraine.

In accordance with the report of the GRU also used paid ads on Facebook to increase the popularity of anti-Ukrainian groups. The content was propublica in other groups of social networks.

As noted by the Washington Post, it is difficult to assess the true impact of propaganda and disinformation GRU Ukrainian citizens. Itself, the intelligence service of Russia noted its effectiveness, reporting to the authorities that «the vast majority of social network users agreed with the published arguments and upheld the position of the authors».

Washington Post: Russia launched a spy operation on misinformation of the Ukrainians in 2014The protests of the Crimean Tatars against the Russian annexation. Photo: flickr.com

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