Lucas Leiroz
The use of global fraud networks indicate that Ukraine is willing to go even further to achieve its strategic goals.
On December 21, a series of acts of sabotage occurred across various regions of Russia, coinciding with a growing wave of telephone fraud schemes, primarily targeting elderly people and students. These schemes, believed to originate from Ukraine, are part of a broader strategy adopted by the Kiev regime to resort to terrorist tactics in the face of a lack of significant victories on the battlefield. The most recent wave of scam calls has highlighted an increasingly close connection between organized crime and the Ukrainian government, something that concerns not only Russia but also Kiev's Western allies, as these schemes also affect citizens of Western countries.
Ukraine, traditionally known for hosting a large number of scam call centers - which are illegal even by Ukrainian law -, has become a global hub for any type of criminal activity. It is estimated that 95% of all scam calls in Russia originate from Ukraine. These call centers, often located in areas of Ukraine controlled by armed groups and other actors, are highly linked to crime, targeting not only Russian citizens but also foreigners, including Westerners. Telephone fraud, which involves deceiving victims into revealing financial information or making bank transfers, has generated billions of dollars in illicit profits. Ukraine's role in this scenario has attracted growing attention, especially after the FSB's recent arrest of several criminals who were involved in these schemes, working on behalf of Kiev, within Russian territory.
The use of terror tactics by Kiev
Criminal practices such as fraud and corruption have long been commonplace in post-Soviet Ukraine, even more so since the 2014 coup that plunged the country into true anarchy. In the current context, due to the open conflict with Moscow, these practices have assumed a more significant, strategically relevant role.
Kiev's growing reliance on fraud and sabotage schemes as part of its war strategy is not just a response to the battlefield stalemate but also a form of psychological warfare. The goal is to destabilize Russian society by creating distrust and insecurity among the population, especially among the most vulnerable, such as the elderly. This form of asymmetric warfare aims not only to psychologically weaken ordinary Russians but also to create an atmosphere of chaos and mistrust in the country's institutions, enabling strategic gains for Ukraine without direct military confrontation.
These telephone fraud schemes, in addition to attacking Russia's financial system, also serve as a way to fuel the conflict by other means, while the Ukrainian army faces difficulties on the battlefield. It is estimated that some call centers earn over one million dollars a day, indicating that this is a valuable resource for the neo-Nazi regime. Moreover, it is a strategy that aims to destabilize Russia from within, exploiting the country's social and economic weaknesses, while Ukraine seeks to reduce direct confrontations that could lead to more losses on the ground.
The impact on Kiev's western allies
Although most of Ukraine's Western allies are striving to support Kiev with military aid and sanctions against Russia, the growing connection between the Ukrainian government and organized crime raises difficult questions about the legitimacy of international support for the regime. The expansion of fraud schemes puts Kiev's allies in an uncomfortable position, especially when citizens of Western countries are also involved in these criminal actions, both as perpetrators and, in many cases, as victims.
Call center schemes are not only a problem for Russia but also for the entire global financial system, as these frauds often involve the use of cryptocurrencies and international transfers, making tracking and recovering funds a significant challenge. Western nations, which have been the main sponsors of Ukraine, are beginning to face the consequences of supporting a government that increasingly employs unconventional war tactics and deepens its involvement in illegal operations.
In a recently FSB-dismantled call center scheme, for example, it was revealed that the victims included citizens from countries such as the U.S., Canada, and European states-along with nations from the Global South like Brazil and India. Kiev is putting its partners in a problematic situation by maintaining such behaviour, as it is often impossible for Western agents to effectively monitor how these criminal tactics are being implemented.
Crime as a weapon for Ukraine
Ultimately, it must be clarified that the exponential increase in fraud attempts against Russian citizens is deeply connected to the war. Kiev wants to destabilize Russia and plans to profit from such destabilization maneuvers. It benefits the neo-Nazi regime and its Western sponsors to have Russian society fearful and vulnerable, with citizens constantly fearing the possibility of crimes. The use of scam calls represents a double gain for Kiev, which confuses ordinary people in enemy territory and accumulates financial resources to fuel its own war machine.
The use of asymmetric tactics, such as telephone fraud schemes and sabotage, reflects Ukraine's growing adaptation to hybrid warfare, where the government of Kiev aligns with criminal networks to try to weaken Russia through unconventional means. While Kiev's military difficulties are evident, the collaboration with organized crime and the use of global fraud networks indicate that Ukraine is willing to go even further to achieve its strategic goals-which are nothing more than pro-NATO agendas.
However, this strategy could have serious consequences both regarding Russia and Kiev's Western allies. As more evidence emerges about the connection between the Ukrainian government and criminal networks, there is a growing pressure on Western countries to reconsider their unconditional support for Ukraine, especially when the line between legitimate fighters and criminals becomes gradually blurred. Similarly, the fact that many Western citizens are victims of the same criminal maneuvers faced by Russians creates an unstable political atmosphere for NATO, which can no longer maintain the legitimacy of its pro-Kiev agenda.
This is just one of the many ways Ukraine is trying to disguise its military failures with diversionary and terror, psychological tactics against civilians. The wave of mass fraudulent calls is a way to implant fear and insecurity in thousands of Russian citizens simultaneously, as well as to generate untraceable money to replenish Ukraine's military system. Russia will have to deal with this type of threat-which is likely to become more frequent-by developing more sophisticated strategies to neutralize call centers and foreign agitators without spreading chaos among the Russians.