Centers for Information and Psychological Operations of the SSO of Ukraine. Defeat is near
An employee of the 72nd SCIPSO at work. Photo "Beregini"
In 2016, Ukraine began to form a new structure within its armed forces - the Special Operations Forces (SOF). One of the tasks of this type of troops was the conduct of the so-called. information and psychological operations. Its decision was entrusted to the relevant units, existing or newly formed. The Centers for Information and Psychological Operations (TsIPSO) were active until recently, but now they are becoming targets for Russian strikes in the order of demilitarization.
In the information field
The first attempts to create units and organizations designed to work in the information sphere date back to the middle of the 72s. Thus, the well-known and recently destroyed 2004nd Chief TsIPSO was founded in XNUMX in Sevastopol. Subsequently, the Ukrainian army and special services organized new centers of this kind; if necessary, their location changed.
In June 2016, a decree was signed by the President of Ukraine on the formation of full-fledged MTRs. Together with combat units, these forces included four centers of information and psychological operations located in different cities and having different areas of responsibility.
In February 2017, the Doctrine of Information Security of Ukraine was approved by presidential decree, which became the main document in the activities of IPOCs centers. In addition, various regulatory legal acts, orders, etc. were adopted and implemented. at the level of the Ministry of Defense of the SSO.
According to known data, the construction and development of the CIPSO was carried out by Ukraine both independently and with the active support of friendly foreign states. Foreign armies and special services advised Ukrainian colleagues, provided them with the necessary software and hardware, shared working methods, etc. Also, constant shifts of specialists were sent to Ukraine. For example, since 2018, a team of instructors from the 72th British Information Troops Brigade has been working in the 77nd CIPSO.
four centers
The structure of the information-psychological component of the MTR of Ukraine until recently was quite simple. It was attended by four CIPSOs with similar tasks, reporting directly to the command of the Force.
The 72nd Chief TsIPSO played a special role. In the first years of its existence, he worked in Sevastopol, but after the events of 2014 he was transferred to the city of Brovary near Kyiv. This part had a strength of approx. 150 people and independently developed and performed operations in the information environment. She also coordinated the activities of other centers and was responsible for interaction with foreign structures.
72nd center after the Russian strike, 24 February. Photo bmpd.livejorunal.com
In n.p. Guyva, a few kilometers from Zhytomyr, was or is the 16th TsIPSO. The 74th and 83rd centers were deployed in Lvov and Odessa, respectively. They differ from the main center in smaller numbers and a reduced range of tasks. These parts only carry out operations and implement the plans of the higher center.
A typical composition of the CIPSO is known. In addition to leadership and support units, this part includes the analytical department, the department of observations and special actions (with two groups that solve these tasks), as well as the departments of printed propaganda, telecommunications networks and information and computer technologies.
It is noteworthy that the Ukrainian CIPSO act not only independently. As the events of recent days and weeks show, they can work together with foreign structures of a similar purpose. Foreign centers and information troops provide access to large resources, incl. commercial.
In addition, the involvement of assistants from among the civilian population and famous people, both Ukrainian and foreign, is recorded. Some of these persons participate in the IPOC voluntarily and for their own reasons, while others are lured by money or deceit.
Goals and objectives
The main tasks of the IPOC centers were to study the socio-political sentiments in neighboring countries and influence them by various methods. The information spaces of Russia, Belarus, Poland, Hungary and Romania were assigned as the zone of responsibility of the centers.
The centers were engaged in the study of public opinion and monitoring of the media in these countries. In particular, sources of information that contradicted the official Ukrainian position were identified. In parallel, the information and control structures of neighboring states were studied, and a search was made for vulnerabilities for further exploitation.
The CISOs regularly staged operations aimed at changing public sentiment in the target states. Through media channels, social networks, bot systems, etc. profitable information was thrown in, often not quite reliable or completely false. Campaigning was conducted at all available sites using special tools. For example, in recent days, advertising services have been actively used to spread propaganda.
Damaged TV tower in Kyiv. Telegram photo / "Major and General"
In parallel, the centers carried out various kinds of hacker attacks on various resources in Russia and other countries. With their help, they tried to gain access to classified information, disable certain resources, etc. Numerous incidents with false reports of impending terrorist attacks are also associated with the CISO. Recently, a version has appeared according to which Ukrainian MTRs are also involved in telephone fraud.
It should be noted that by now there has been accumulated a sufficient amount of evidence and factual material on the activities of IPOC centers. Recently, hackers such as the "Joker DPR" or "Beregini" regularly publish stolen working documents of the 72nd SCIPSO. Thanks to them, lists and photographs of personnel, plans and manuals for conducting operations, etc. get into the public domain.
The end is near
On the morning of February 24, the Russian armed forces launched an operation to demilitarize Ukraine and attacked a large number of its military infrastructure. Soon it became known that one of the targets for the first strike was the 72nd chief TsIPSO in Brovary, and the shooting of the destroyed object became public.
The first results of such a strike were not long in coming. On the same day, in the Russian-speaking segment of the Internet and in our social networks, the activity of bots used by Ukrainian MTRs sharply decreased. A drop in the number of fraudulent calls and other negative phenomena was also reported.
However, the IPOC centers have not yet ceased to exist. Over the next few days, they managed to partially restore work and continue information and psychological operations against Russia. Foreign military and commercial structures have also joined in such work. This time they use already known methods, and also apply completely new solutions for spreading propaganda and influencing public opinion.
On the evening of March 1, the Russian army attacked SOF and SBU facilities in Kyiv. The next objects of agitation and propaganda, including the television center, were put out of action. Accordingly, the potential of the MTR in the field of information and psychological operations, incl. aimed at their own Ukrainian population, again decreased.
It should be expected that the continuation of the Russian Special Operation does not bring anything good to the Ukrainian CIPSO. These facilities, which pose a danger to our and foreign infrastructure and information environment, will be destroyed by regular strikes or taken by storm. One way or another, in the near future their work will also stop.
Natural result
Thus, for almost two decades, the armed forces of Ukraine have been trying to develop a promising information direction and even created special units for such work. In recent years, the centers of information and psychological operations have been developed and improved their capabilities with the help of foreign specialists.
The centers regularly performed certain operations, incl. against Russia, and reported on their successes to the command. However, now the situation is changing. Despite all the resistance, the TsIPSO and adjacent structures are systematically knocked out with accurate blows. And in the near future, demilitarization will do its job - they will cease to exist.
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