Russia’s interior ministry has issued a strong warning for citizens, advising them to avoid online dating services and be cautious with social media usage. The warning, broadcasted on the ministry’s official Telegram channel late Tuesday, cited concerns over information gathering by Ukrainian forces.
“The use of online dating services is strongly discouraged,” Russia’s interior ministry said in a statement on Telegram.
“The enemy actively uses such resources for information gathering,” it added.
Border areas targeted
The ministry’s plea targeted residents of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions, as well as military and police personnel stationed in these areas. The ministry also cautioned against opening hyperlinks from unknown sources and streaming videos from sensitive locations.
Authorities warned that Ukrainian forces are remotely accessing unprotected CCTV cameras, monitoring everything from private properties to crucial roads and highways. Troops and police are advised to disable geo-tagging on social media to prevent real-time location tracking.
Russia’s state telecommunications monitoring service also reported widespread disruptions in Telegram and WhatsApp, though it did not disclose the cause of these interruptions.
Ukrainian troops enter Russian territory
Ukrainian troops have reportedly advanced up to 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) into Russian territory, capturing 93 settlements since their surprise assault began. More than 121,000 residents from Kursk have been evacuated, according to Russia’s ministry of emergency situations.
Drone attacks on Moscow
On Wednesday, Ukraine launched one of the largest drone strikes on Moscow since the war began in February 2022. Russia’s defense ministry reported downing 45 drones over various regions, including Moscow. As the conflict continues in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine has used US-manufactured HIMARS rocket systems to target Russian infrastructure, including pontoon bridges and engineering equipment in Kursk.