Kirill Parubets, a systems analyst of Ukrainian descent, detailed the frightening ordeal. Living in Ukraine since 2020 and identifying as an opposition activist, Parubets has supported Ukrainians financially and with humanitarian aid following Russia’s invasion in 2022. His return to Russia in 2023 was solely to handle paperwork related to obtaining Moldovan citizenship, which would allow him to remain in Ukraine legally.
The nightmare began on April 18, 2024, when six FSB agents stormed Parubets’ Moscow apartment at dawn. Armed and aggressive, they interrogated him about financial contributions to Ukrainians and questioned him about a friend, referred to as “Ivan Ivanov” to protect his identity. Forced to unlock his phone under threats, Parubets later discovered the consequences of this act.
During his detention, which included physical abuse, FSB agents accused Parubets of treason for his charitable activities and pressured him to act as an informant against Ivanov, claiming Ivanov was linked to Ukrainian intelligence. Though he pretended to comply, Parubets had no intention of following through.
After his release on May 3, Parubets noticed unusual activity on his Android phone, including a suspicious notification and an unauthorized app. Using his cybersecurity knowledge, he identified the app as a disguised version of the legitimate Cube Call Recorder, capable of accessing sensitive data such as messages, location, and even recordings.
Further analysis by Citizen Lab, a digital watchdog group, confirmed the app was spyware, resembling an advanced version of Monokle, a malware previously linked to Russian intelligence. Citizen Lab concluded that physical access to devices poses a significant security threat, rivaling sophisticated remote hacking techniques.
Parubets and his wife have since left Russia, leaving behind the compromised phone to maintain the illusion they remained in Moscow. Dmitry Zair-Bek, a human rights advocate, warned that such tactics by Russian authorities are escalating, endangering not only activists but also foreign visitors to the country.
Reflecting on his escape, Parubets said, “Leaving the phone behind was crucial. It helped buy us precious time.”
