Russia has been spreading false claims that Ukraine has been harvesting the organs of fallen soldiers and children as Moscow tries to build support for its invasion, according to a rare public warning from Canada’s foreign signals intelligence agency.
The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) also said it’s aware of Russian efforts to promote fake anti-Canadian stories.
Following on actions taken by British and American intelligence services, the CSE tweeted Friday its observations on intelligence gleaned from what it calls Russian-backed disinformation campaigns — a well-known tactic of President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
The agency said there’s been a co-ordinated effort by Russia to create and spread false reports that Ukraine has been harvesting the organs of fallen soldiers, women and children, and using mobile cremators to dispose of the evidence.
Russia also has “created and amplified fake stories and narratives falsely claiming that only military targets were being attacked, and that civilian causalities in Ukraine were lower than what confirmed, verifiable reports have shown,” said CSE.
“Equally, we’ve seen Russia’s efforts to promote stories that falsely categorize Russian protesters and citizens opposed to the invasion as supporting neo-Nazis and genocide.”
A CSE spokesperson said false stories aimed at the Canadian Armed Forces are circulating as well.
“Not surprisingly, we have seen dedicated efforts to promote fake, anti-Canadian stories, which are designed to look authentic, directed at members of the Canadian Armed Forces,” said Ryan Foreman.
He said that while CSE couldn’t speak to specifics, the agency was tracking anti-Canadian disinformation even before debunked rumours of a Canadian sniper being killed began to spread.
The former Canadian Armed Forces sniper, who goes by the nom de guerre Wali, came forward to disprove claims he had been killed after joining the defence of Ukraine.
Posts on a Russian social media site claimed the man had been killed by Russian Special Forces 20 minutes after he arrived in Mariupol, the southern port city that has been under siege by Russia.
“I’m alive, as you can see,” Wali told CBC last month. “Not a single scratch.”
‘Russia hasn’t changed its playbook’: expert
CSE — which usually informs the government of activities by foreign entities that threaten Canada or its allies — said it’s sharing some of its findings more widely now so that Canadians can guard against disinformation.
“Canada’s support to Ukraine is unwavering. The Russian invasion must stop and we will continue to work, as part of the Government of Canada’s efforts, to correct false narratives that undermine the facts,” said Foreman.
Ukrainian soldiers carry bodies of civilians killed by the Russian forces past the destroyed bridge in Irpin close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
Former security analyst Stephanie Carvin, now an associate professor at Carleton University, said that despite Russia’s revered information operations capabilities, it has under-performed in the Ukraine campaign to date and is failing to pick up much traction in the West.
“I think they’ve been very poor, shockingly poor, actually,” she said.
“I think pre-bunking may have played a serious role in this. But also the fact is that it just seems like Russia hasn’t changed its playbook, whereas I think the West has.”
“Pre-bunking” refers to efforts by intelligence agencies to publicly call out disinformation campaigns or false-flag operations before they begin.
Still, Carvin warned that — as with its military operations — Russia is likely to adapt its information operations strategy.
“All of this could change down the road,” she said.
Warnings about cyberattacks
The electronic spy agency has issued multiple warnings to power companies, banks and other critical elements of Canada’s infrastructure and economy, urging them to shore up their defences against Russia-based cyber threat activity.
The agency said it has been sharing cyber threat intelligence with key partners in Ukraine and is working with the Canadian Armed Forces through intelligence sharing, cyber security and cyber operations.
Carvin said she hopes to see more transparency from Canada’s intelligence agencies.
“You can’t have an intelligence briefing like this every day, but I think a good, timely one is important to the Canadian public, and makes them aware that these campaigns exist, which may be important down the road — say, during an election,” she said.
“Just because these campaigns are out there doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re successful and everyone should lose their minds about it. It’s just [a reminder] to keep aware that these kinds of campaigns exist and that the national security community is watching.”
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
