FSB stated that the popular Telegram dating chatbot 'Davynchik/Leo'…
FSB stated that the popular Telegram dating chatbot 'Davynchik/Leo' is actively being used by Ukrainian intelligence services to involve young Russians in sabotage and terrorist activities.
Consensus
- The Telegram chat-bot 'Daiwinchik/Leo' has been used by Ukrainian intelligence services to recruit Russian minors for terrorist and sabotage activities.
- Russian authorities have arrested multiple young people aged between 12 and 22 in various regions of Russia.
- The individuals were allegedly recruited through romantic deception, using fake female profiles on the bot.
- Participants were asked to send geolocation data, click phishing links, and later pressured by figures posing as Russian security officials.
- Ukrainian operatives reportedly used psychological manipulation and threats to compel participants to carry out attacks such as arson of vehicles, gas stations, and administrative buildings.
- The Russian Investigative Committee has opened multiple criminal cases related to terrorism, sabotage, and involvement of minors in crimes.
- Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was accused of supporting terrorist activities and placed on an international wanted list.
- Russian authorities have initiated steps to block the 'Daiwinchik' bot.
Points of divergence
- The creator of 'Leonardo Da Vinci' remains unknown, with developers maintaining anonymity. — meduza
- A teenager from St. Petersburg admitted to setting fire to two gas stations at the direction of Ukrainian handlers. — vm
- 19 young people were detained in 10 regions, with cases spanning May 2025 to May 2026; all involved arson and sabotage. — riamo
- 46 users were detained starting from July 2025 across 17 regions, including roles as couriers for money transfers to crypto exchanges. — tvrain
- The cases in St. Petersburg are consolidated into one production with 15 materials related to arson of vehicles and buildings. — vesti
- The bot was used for armed attacks on police, sabotage of transport, energy, communication, and financial infrastructure, as well as courier duties for money transfers. — interfax
Coverage (9 sources)
- «Леонардо Дайвинчик» — телеграм-бот для знакомств, из-за которого Павла Дурова внесли в список террористов. Сервисом пользуются более 13 миллионов человек, но кто его создал, неизвестно — Meduza
- Подростки рассказали, как украинцы завербовали их через «Дайвинчик» для терактов — Вечерняя Москва
- Ukrainian Intelligence Recruited 19 Russian Teenagers in 'Diving' Chatbot — РИАМО
- Telegram founder Durov accused of aiding terrorism over failure to remove bots used by Ukrainian intelligence to recruit teens for sabotage — FSB — Дождь
- Поводом для обвинения Дурова стало неудаление ботов «для подготовки диверсий» — ФСБ — Дождь
- Prosecutors have opened cases on involving minors in diversions via Telegram chatbots — Вести
- FSB claims Ukrainian intelligence recruited Russians for sabotage via Telegram bot 'Leonardo Diving' — Meduza
- Russia reports arrest of 46 Russians recruited by Ukraine via dating chatbot 'Diving' — Интерфакс
- FBI Declares War on 'Diving'. Ukraine's Intelligence Services Use Chatbot — Фонтанка
Key entities
- FSB
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Divingchik
- SK
- Telegram
- Moscow
- Saint Petersburg
- Investigative Committee
- Pavel Durov
- Divingchik/Leo
- COS
- Svetlana Petrenko
- Leonardo Divingchik
- INTERFAX.RU
More on Pavel Durov
- Durov Launches Telegram's Gram Wallet for Select Users
- Durov posts on VKontakte after 8 years
- Telegram Applies for .gram Domain Zone