Russia: Hacked Radio Stations Broadcast Putin’s Fake “Ukraine Invasion” Speech

Several Russian radio stations have become victims of “hacker attacks”. The “speech”, delivered by a male voice, very similar to the voice of the President of Russia, sounded on Monday on several radio stations. The report states that “heavily armed (…) Ukrainian forces, supported by Washington, have invaded the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions,” territories bordering Ukraine, according to local authorities.

The same message, attributed to Vladimir Putin and picked up on some social networks, reported on the introduction of martial law in these regions, the upcoming signing of a presidential decree on general mobilization in Russia and a call for the evacuation of local residents.

“Sowing panic among the inhabitants”

The hack comes amid a two-week increase in incursions and bombings in the Belgorod region, where pro-Ukrainian Russian militants are attacking Russian forces. “It really was a hack. We are aware,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies, assuring that frequency control by the relevant radio stations had been restored.

“The information about the invasion of Ukrainian troops into the Belgorod region, the introduction of martial law, general mobilization and evacuation (…) is false,” the authorities of the Belgorod region said for their part. “The purpose of this message is to sow panic among civilians,” Telegram assured the crisis unit created by the authorities, urging them to “keep calm” and trust only “reliable” sources of information.

Situation under control

In the Voronezh region, which also borders Ukraine and where some radio stations were also hacked, authorities have assured residents there is “no reason to worry.” “The situation in the region is under the control of the authorities and law enforcement agencies,” the Telegram message says.

According to one of the affected radio stations, MIR, it lost control of its frequencies for about 40 minutes during the day, calling everything that was broadcast during this period “a complete fake and provocation.” In February, several Russian radio and TV channels were already broadcasting false anti-aircraft alerts, again due to a hack.