"Systematic manipulation": in Europe, "disposable teenagers" recruited by Russian secret services

Young men are most often spotted on social media, streaming or video game platforms, and online messaging services, then patiently manipulated by the FSB, the Russian secret service, sometimes using scripts developed by AI. Launched on missions that are initially simple and fun, then become much more serious and dangerous, they are paid in kind or in cryptocurrency.

A phenomenon that, while it seems to be sparing France for the moment, is worrying our European neighbors, from Ukraine to the United Kingdom, including Poland and Germany. While the use of adolescents for violent actions was initially a method of jihadist terrorism or the far right, it is now being used by Russia "with increasing recklessness," according to British intelligence, considering that a conflict with the West is already underway and that such acts will not lead to significant consequences, according to Keir Giles, an analyst specializing in Russian external operations at the Chatham House think tank.

Until the terrorist attacks

According to the same analyst, these basic modus operandi don't need to have a high success rate, as the goal is to sow fear and chaos rather than obtain sensitive military intelligence. And even if the perpetrators are quickly caught and confess, the objectives are most often achieved. According to a Swedish government study, 10% of young people aged 12 to 20 interested in video games have at one time encountered recruitment attempts by anti-democratic movements.

In Ukraine - which denounces the "systematic manipulation of adolescents and young adults" by Russia - of more than 700 people arrested since 2023 for their involvement in espionage, arson or attacks orchestrated by Moscow , a quarter were under 18 and the youngest was 11...