FSS criminals.Photo: sprotyv.mod.gov.ua
Russia’s ‘Federal Security Service’ (FSS) has begun active operations in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of southern Ukraine, using the criminal element to establish control over local markets. According to TimeUkraineIsrael, citing the National Resistance Centre, this strategy is being implemented by recruiting people from the Caucasus, who are directly sent to the TOT to manage key industries.
A system of control through criminality
According to information received from the Centre of National Resistance, representatives of criminal groups arriving from the Caucasus are tasked with controlling markets. For their activities, they pay part of their income to FSS officers, which provides them with additional protection and support from the occupation administration. This cooperation also serves as a source of information for the FSS, allowing Russian security forces to monitor the activities of the local population and persecute those who do not support the occupation regime.
Displacement of local traders
One of the most serious consequences of this practice is the systematic displacement of local entrepreneurs from their outlets. There have been numerous cases of people being forced out of their shops because they refused to cooperate with the occupiers. Instead, the market is given to loyal collaborators who support the interests of the Russian authorities.
A call to action
The National Resistance Centre calls on all citizens to report such cases and all representatives from Russia who have arrived and cooperate with the occupiers in any area. It is important to join forces to identify and document these violations, which will help not only protect the local population but also counteract the aggressive actions of the occupiers.
This new phase of the threat from Russian forces underscores the need for active participation of society in the fight to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty. By supporting each other and actively countering the aggression, we can preserve our markets and communities.
