Thousands of video surveillance cameras with Russian TRASSIR software are installed in Ukraine. The video from these cameras is sent to Moscow servers owned by companies linked to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). The Interior Ministry promised to verify this information.
Surveillance cameras in Ukraine have been transmitting data to the Russian Federation for years
The Radio Liberty investigation states that since the annexation of Crimea, thousands of CCTV cameras have been installed and are operating in Ukraine, running on Russian TRASSIR software from DSSL, an information technology solutions company.
In Ukraine, they have been purchased by both state-owned enterprises, in particular for installation at critical infrastructure facilities such as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and private companies such as the Velyka Kyshenya retail chain and the Nova Poshta logistics group. Ordinary Ukrainians also bought them in bulk to ensure the security of their homes.
Schemy conducted an experiment with cybersecurity experts and found out that the video from these cameras, before reaching the consumer's phone or computer, goes to servers located in Moscow and owned by companies affiliated with the Russian FSB.
It is difficult to overestimate the level of sensitivity of the information from these cameras, as the video surveillance system allows you to recognise faces, car licence plates, and record the movement of people and vehicles.
Ukraine restricted the use of Russian TRASSIR technology on 27 February 2022, blocking access to millions of Russian IP addresses.
However, according to journalists, TRASSIR may return to the Ukrainian market under the guise of a foreign product, such as AziGuard from the Romanian company AziTrend.
Reaction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the investigation
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said on the air of the Yedyni Novyny (United News) telethon that the ministry would check the information from the investigation.
The information that was covered in the journalistic investigation certainly requires careful research and study. And this is a question not only for the special services. This is a question for the utilities that installed these cameras, Klymenko said.
The minister promised that representatives of military administrations would be involved in checking the possible access of Russian special services to data from Ukrainian cameras.
We always closely follow both the investigations and citizens' reports, so we will soon give a joint response on further technical protection of information, including from video cameras.
