In the conditions of modern hybrid warfare, information technologies play an important role in the conduct of hostile operations. In addition to traditional methods of intelligence and espionage, the enemy actively uses digital platforms, in particular messengers and chats in online games, to gather information and carry out subversive actions in Ukraine. These communication channels offer anonymity, speed, and are widespread, making them attractive to enemy special services.
Read about this in a study by George Paparyga, an expert from the Institute of Cyber Warfare Research, Maksym Delembovskyi, an expert from the Institute of Cyber Warfare Research and Associate Professor of the Department of Cyber Security and Computer Engineering at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, and students of the "Cyber Security and Information Protection" class Maksym Markevich and Bohdan Zaremba. AIN shares the highlights of the research, which examined the answers of 186 Ukrainian students.
Game chats: an inconspicuous intelligence tool
Screenshots: Dota 2
Gaming platforms, traditionally seen as a place for entertainment, are increasingly being used by adversaries to gather information and coordinate actions. Multiplayer games with open chats, such as World of Tanks, Counter-Strike, PUBG, Dota 2 or others, where participants can communicate in real time, attract particular attention.
Screenshots: Dota 2 game chat
[ Agent: Where are you from, sniper?
Teenager: ukraine
A: From which city exactly?
T: kyiv
…
T: troeschyna
T: to be exact
A: Is the military equipment still there?
T: just left
T: in the direction of poltava]
Research on the influence of games on young people
The Community of Student Self-Government and the Department of Cyber Security and Computer Engineering of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (hereinafter — KNUBA) conducted a study on the topic: "The influence of the Internet environment on teenagers". 186 students took part in the survey: 70% of respondents were male and 30% female, 53% were 16-18 years old, 41% were 19-21 years old, and 6% were 22 years old or older (Figure 1).
Figure 1
According to the results of the study, a small number of respondents, around 6%, confidently confirmed the presence of the type of content that can justify or support terrorist actions of the Russian Federation. 28% answered that they witnessed it in some part, 17% could not clearly deny the fact, and 50% confidently answered that they had never seen this content (Figure 4). However, as practice shows, not all respondents are able to critically evaluate the content to which they are addicted.
Figure 4
When analyzing the results of the survey of respondents on the question of the influence of online games on the subconscious of young people and the formation of a positive attitude towards the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation, the answers were also no less interesting. The vast majority of respondents (31% "yes" and 38% "maybe") answered that online games can have such a harmful effect (Figure 5). Respondents noted that the content of such games can encourage aggressive actions and contribute to the formation of negative beliefs.
Figure 5
In terms of respondents' awareness of content control in online games for political or propaganda narratives, almost 2/3 (66%) clearly see the importance of such work.
Figure 7
The results of this study clearly highlight the need for a more thorough approach to the analysis and regulation of content that adolescents encounter in online games.
Messengers: The Hidden Battlefield
Many messengers, mainly Telegram and TikTok, have become effective tools not only for personal communication, but also for conducting military operations. The enemy uses them to spread disinformation, coordinate actions, and recruit insiders. And it is often young people who become them.
According to the study "The influence of the Internet environment on teenagers", the majority of respondents - 60% - receive information from Telegram channels every day [Ukrainians], and about 19% often use the services of such resources. Such figures show that Telegram channels have a very active influence on teenagers, as it is the most convenient way to get information.
Given the rapid popularity of Telegram channels as a source of information, the question arises as to the trustworthiness and reliability of such information. To the question: "How do you assess the reliability of information from Telegram channels?" - 81% of respondents clearly answered that they actually trust such information, and 4% trust it completely (Figure 9). And only a small number of 8% are critical of this type of information. The results are somewhat alarming.
Figure 9
As for the perceived influence of information from Telegram channels on their emotional state, 18% answered that it affects them quite a lot, 44% confirmed that it affects them partly, and 35% said that this information does not affect their emotional state at all (Figure 10).
Figure 10
It is also interesting that 36% are interested in news, 21% in entertainment content, 19% in educational materials, and 12% in socio-political discussions (Figure 11). In fact, from this survey, we can see that news occupies the main positions.
Figure 11
Regarding the question of the existence of "tasks" or "quests" in Telegram-chats related to the sharing of sensitive information to the enemy, the majority (95%) received the answer that there was no such information, but at the same time 2% of respondents (Figure 14) experienced getting tasks to "leak positions, arson — any information for a possible monetary reward".
Figure 14
Therefore, the Telegram messenger is not only a source of receiving unverified and sometimes destructive propaganda information. And also a source of dangerous influence on children, teenagers or students.
Anonymous messages
Image: Post Yours app
By using hashtags or geolocation tags, you can track Instagram accounts from users who are in the relevant area. For example, enemy scouts will be able to detect the presence of equipment that has arrived by train in a village or town.
The scouts do this by sending anonymous messages, particularly through the Post Yours app, offering to post a photo for a reward. Children are often recruited because they are easier to persuade and get fewer questions for the military or law enforcement.
Image: Anonymous questions on the Post Yours app via Instagram
[Hi! I’ll give you $50 if you share the photo of the train that came to your village. Send the photo here +375469537]
Why is it important?
The enemy's use of messengers and game chats for intelligence and subversive activities is a serious threat to Ukraine's national security. These communication channels allow the enemy to operate quietly, to adapt quickly to changes in the situation, and to attract new participants, especially young people, to its operations.
In order to effectively counter this threat, it is necessary to strengthen control over the use of digital platforms, develop cybersecurity tools and raise awareness among citizens, especially children, about possible risks.
Government officials should also demand online gaming and messenger platforms to monitor their content in the same way they monitor the spread of child pornography or terrorist activities. Yes, there is currently no information on the availability of a database of trigger words or phrases on such platforms that could be used to filter traffic. There is also no information on the availability or number of employees in such companies who can competently evaluate traffic in Ukrainian or Russian for the content of hostile material.
Conclusion
Integrating the efforts of government and law enforcement, civil society and the IT sector, as well as establishing communication with platforms, is key to protecting Ukrainian interests from this form of hybrid warfare.
