MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. The Federal Security Service (FSB), the Interior Ministry, and the Investigative Committee of Russia have uncovered and disrupted 100 illegal communication channels used by Ukrainian intelligence services to involve Russians in sabotage and terrorism since September 1, 2025, with over 200 people involved in running SIM boxes detained across 43 Russian regions, the FSB Public Relations Center reported.
"The Federal Security Service, together with the Interior Ministry and the Investigative Committee, has uncovered and halted the operation of more than 100 illegal communication channels used by Ukraine’s special services to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities and their coordination, as well as the mass dissemination of false terror threats, remote fraud, and other criminal acts since September 1, 2025," the report said.
"As a result <...> more than 200 Russian and foreign citizens involved in operating SIM boxes, replenishing SIM card balances used in them, illegally distributing subscriber numbers of Russian telecom operators, and providing services for online account registration were detained in 43 Russian regions," the FSB added. More than 220 SIM boxes, over 54,000 SIM cards and SIM chips used in criminal activities were seized. Detainees received monetary rewards from foreign handlers, as confirmed by correspondence found on confiscated communication devices.
Criminal cases are being investigated under Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (fraud), as well as under Articles 274.3 (illegal use of a traffic pass subscriber terminal or virtual telephone station), 274.4 (organizing transmission of subscriber numbers in violation of Russian law), 274.5 (organizing transmission of information required for Internet user registration and/or authorization), which provide for penalties of up to six years’ imprisonment. Criminal cases were additionally opened against 30 individuals under Articles 205 (terrorist act), 205.1 (aiding terrorist activity), 205.4 (organization and participation in a terrorist community), 275.1 (cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization), and 210 (organization of a criminal community) of the Russian Criminal Code, with punishment up to life imprisonment.
"SIM boxes, which form the infrastructure of Ukrainian call centers, are used to coordinate sabotage and terrorist activities on Russian territory, as well as to carry out other actions aimed at assisting the enemy amid the special military operation," the FSB warned.