Russia Moscow: Citizens in Kursk told to switch off dating apps

The Russian Interior Ministry has called on people in three regions on the border with Ukraine to deactivate dating apps and online surveillance cameras.

"The enemy identifies IP addresses on our territory on a large scale and connects remotely to unsecured cameras that monitor everything from private yards to strategically important roads and highways," the ministry said. The use of online dating services was also advised against, as these could also be used to collect information.

Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for more than two years, launched a counter-offensive around two weeks ago, advancing into the western Russian region of Kursk. This is the first time that Kiev has shifted the war to the territory of its opponent. Russia continues to occupy large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.

The Ministry of the Interior has advised Russian soldiers not to open text messages from unknown senders. They should also delete chats with comrades if they have been taken prisoner of war. The Ministry of the Interior recommends that residents of regions close to the border do not share video recordings on social networks that show military convoys.

Soldiers, police officers and secret service employees should also delete photos on their cell phones that identify them as members of these services. They should also refrain from using nicknames such as "Lyosha FSB" online. The FSB is the Russian domestic intelligence service.

"Employees in the energy industry, including the nuclear industry, should remove their professional affiliation from social networks so that they do not fall into the field of vision of hostile intelligence services," it continues.

SDA