# SBU and FBI Uncover Extensive Russian Campaign Targeting Messaging Accounts **Kyiv, Ukraine** – The **Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)**, working alongside the **FBI**, has revealed a widespread Russian cyber espionage campaign. This operation has systematically targeted government officials, military personnel, politicians, and activists across Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, seeking to gain unauthorized access to their messaging accounts. ## Objectives of the Campaign The primary goal of the attackers is to illicitly obtain sensitive military, political, and economic intelligence exchanged through various messaging applications. Beyond strategic information, the campaign also focuses on stealing victims' personal data, as detailed in an **SBU** statement released on Thursday. ## Social Engineering: The Core Tactic Crucially, the **SBU** noted that the attackers did not exploit vulnerabilities within the messaging applications themselves. Instead, they relied heavily on a range of social engineering techniques. A common method involves sending deceptive text messages impersonating official messaging platform support services, coercing users into divulging their account credentials. "The messages are sent in the morning hours, when users are particularly vulnerable due to their physical and emotional state," the **SBU** statement highlighted, indicating a calculated approach to maximize success rates. ## Targeted Individuals and Entities According to the **SBU**, the campaign, attributed to Russian intelligence services and their affiliated hacker groups, has targeted a broad spectrum of individuals and institutions. This includes government bodies, public officials, activists, and ordinary Ukrainian citizens. While the **SBU** did not name the specific Russian intelligence service responsible, identify the primary messaging platforms affected, or disclose the total number of victims, the **FBI** has yet to comment on the matter. ## A Broader Pattern of Russian Espionage This revelation aligns with a series of warnings from Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies regarding persistent Russian efforts to compromise secure messaging platforms. These platforms are vital communication channels for government and military personnel. Earlier this year, Dutch intelligence agencies issued a similar alert, cautioning that Russian state-backed hackers were conducting a global operation to hijack **Signal** and **WhatsApp** accounts. These attacks, too, involved impersonating customer support to trick targets into sharing one-time verification codes or PINs. Ukraine has previously reported on Russian espionage operations specifically targeting its military's messaging applications. These operations have included deploying data-stealing malware and attempting to extract encrypted **Telegram** and **Signal** communications from mobile phones captured on the battlefield.