War in Ukraine: Tinder, Badoo, Grindr… why Russian soldiers should not use dating apps ?

Since August 20, 2024, citizens of the Kursk region have been called upon to limit the use of dating apps, due to a risk in the face of the Ukrainian offensive.

While Volodymyr Zelensky's men continue their incursion into Russian territory in the Kursk region, citizens of Vladimir Putin's country, close to the border areas and the conflict, are called upon to limit their use of dating apps, such as Tinder, Grindr and Badoo. This would represent a risk in the face of the Ukrainian offensive, reports Ouest France.

“Less suspicious on Tinder than elsewhere”

Providing as little information as possible to the enemy is Russia's goal. Indeed, the Russian Interior Ministry has ordered its citizens to “limit their online activity and their presence on dating apps”, notes the daily. Information relayed by the Russian authorities on Telegram.   “The enemies use the data collected", explained the tricolor country.

Far from civilian life, soldiers on the front seek comfort by going to dating apps. Isabelle Dufour, director of strategic studies, explains that the fighters are often young men, who have the need to express that they "do not want to be silent heroes".

But since the start of the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region, Vladimir Putin's country has considered that this need for expression is risky and that if certain information is disclosed, such as missions or positions, it could be risky for the troops. “Starting up a conversation and asking for details about the job seems much less suspicious on Tinder than elsewhere”, explains the specialist.

But espionage can also be much more discreet. “When geolocation is activated, it is easy to stay behind your computer and hack the data They have entire units dedicated to this espionage and intelligence work and hire spies or experts from this or that platform", affirms Isabelle Dufour in a decryption with our colleagues.

But Russia has decided to react quickly. “For three or four months, the Russian authorities have been very virulent with their soldiers. We have seen them tape phones to trees to remind them that phones are forbidden on the front", emphasizes the specialist. Note that for over a year, Tinder has not been usable in the country run by the Kremlin, but the application remains accessible via a VPN, despite its ban…