NATO specialist supplies Ukraine with coordinates of Russian oil terminals — hackers

TASS · 🇺🇦 public Ukraine · Aug 07, 2026 · 230 words

Hybrid Warfare NATO-Ukraine Cooperation Espionage and Sabotage

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What to know about Hybrid Warfare

TASS reports that Russian hackers claim Bart De Wachter, a hybrid warfare specialist affiliated with NATO intelligence, provided the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) with coordinates for oil and gas terminals in Russia. The report cites leaked correspondence between De Wachter and SBU representatives regarding intelligence sharing and expert collaboration.

Propaganda risk 40%

Claims checked 6

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage

Left14%

Center86%

Right0%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Hybrid warfare specialist Bart De Wachter, who works for NATO intelligence, provided the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) coordinates of oil terminals in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad Regions, Russian hackers reported to TASS.

Why it matters

"Bart De Wachter is a hybrid warfare specialist.

Common ground

He currently is affiliated with HAVN (Hybrid Analyze Vigilant Network), an organization connected to Special Operations Forces and NATO intelligence," the hackers said in a statement.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Doubt: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Hybrid Warfare story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that De Wachter proposed holding an online meeting with an SBU International Cooperation Center representative named Ivan, with his intelligence superior, Martin, also set to attend?
How does this story connect Hybrid Warfare with NATO-Ukraine Cooperation over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://tass.com/politics/2169999

analyticsAnalysis

40%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Moderate concerns. Notable use of persuasive or loaded language.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Doubt 70% confidence

Questioning the credibility of a source or claim without providing evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing doubt helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3

check_circle Corroborated 3

info

Claim 1: “De Wachter proposed holding an online meeting with an SBU International Cooperation Center representative named Ivan, with his intelligence superior, Martin, also set to attend.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one specific source (Michael Walsh) mentions the proposal of an online meeting with 'Ivan' and 'Martin'. Other results for 'Bart De Wachter' refer to a water researcher or a LinkedIn profile, not the intelligence specialist.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Hackers named hybrid warfare specialist Bart de Wachter.De Wachter also proposed an online meeting with a representative from the SBU’s Center for International Cooperation named Ivan. His intelligenc…
https://michaelwalshwriter.com/2026/08/08/world-war-iii-proo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Bart De Wachter. County Administrative Board of Jämtland · Water Unit.How we measure 'reads'. A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list o…
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bart-De-Wachter

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web search NEUTRAL — Bart De Wachter liked this. Commerce media belongs to every sector. Any organisation with transactional data, digital touchpoints, and a real audience has the foundation to become a media owner.
https://be.linkedin.com/in/bartdewachter

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Claim 2: “Hybrid warfare specialist Bart De Wachter, who works for NATO intelligence, provided the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) coordinates of oil terminals in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad Regions”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results report that Russian hackers claim Bart De Wachter provided coordinates of oil terminals in Leningrad and Kaliningrad to the SBU.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — ...that Bart De Wachter, a hybrid warfare specialist affiliated with NATO intelligence, had provided Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) with intelligence containing the coordinates of oil terminals in t…
https://english.news.cn/20260808/8b7be703bf1d4397b53000e6903…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Russian hackers claimed hybrid warfare expert Bart De Wachter shared coordinates of oil and gas terminals in Russia’s Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions with Ukraine’s SBU, along with information on a …
https://www.firstpost.com/world/nato-gave-ukraine-coordinate…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — According to available information, a NATO intelligence-linked hybrid warfare specialist, Bart de Wachter, provided the coordinates of oil and gas terminals in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions to…
http://ecoruspace.ru/index.php?action=view&id_news=126315223

info

Claim 3: “Bart De Wachter is a hybrid warfare specialist. He currently is affiliated with HAVN (Hybrid Analyze Vigilant Network), an organization connected to Special Operations Forces and NATO intelligence”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the claim is mentioned in the context of the hacker allegations in other claims, the specific evidence provided for Claim 1 consists of irrelevant search results (BART transit, Bart Simpson). The only corroboration comes from the general narrative found in the evidence for Claim 0, but no independent verification of his affiliation with HAVN is present in the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A contractor employed directly by BART, using the marketing name of BART Express, formerly operated express service to BART from the WCCTA service area. In July 1998, WCCTA assumed operation of this s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Entertainment Weekly named him Entertainer of the Year in 1990. Cartwright has received accolades for her portrayal of Bart, including a Primetime Emmy Award in 1992 and an Annie Award in 1995. In 200…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Simpson

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Service Alert: Passengers traveling between Union City and Warm Springs this weekend must transfer to a free bus while crews make track upgrades. Expect delays of 30-40 minutes. Green Line service wil…
https://www.bart.gov/

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Claim 4: “De Wachter forwarded an SBU representative intelligence data containing the coordinates of oil and gas terminals in the Leningrad and Kaliningrad Regions, as well as a Gazprom tanker carrying liquefied natural gas.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report the allegation that De Wachter provided coordinates for oil/gas terminals in Leningrad and Kaliningrad and a Gazprom LNG tanker.

travel_explore

info

Claim 5: “Mikhail Marchenko... currently works at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim that Mikhail Marchenko works at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine is mentioned in the context of the hacker allegations (see Claim 4 evidence), but the specific evidence provided for Claim 5 refers to other individuals named Marchenko (a money launderer, a wife of Medvedchuk, and a CEO of FunPay), providing no independent verification of the SBU Academy employment.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — “As alleged in the charges, Marchenko and his co-conspirators engaged in an elaborate, fraudulent scheme to smuggle military-grade technology with the potential to harm U.S. national security.
https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/russian-internationa…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — So, the Security Service of Ukraine announced its suspicion of Oksana Marchenko a year after she left the country. And it declared her wanted even later. Viktor Medvedchuk’s wife crossed the border ac…
https://www.slidstvo.info/en/articles/special-operation-marc…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Official website of Mikhail Marchenko (FunPay). Explore professional experience, key projects, biography, and contact information.
https://www.mikhail-marchenko.com/

check_circle

Claim 6: “Ivan, in turn, proposed including his expert, SBU Major Mikhail Marchenko, in the correspondence.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results confirm the detail that 'Ivan' proposed including SBU Major Mikhail Marchenko in the correspondence.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Security Service of Ukraine (Ukrainian: Служба безпеки України, romanized: Sluzhba bezpeky Ukrainy [ˈsluʒbɐ bezˈpɛkɪ ʊkrɐˈjinɪ]; abbreviated as SBU [СБУ] or SSU) is the main internal security agen…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Service_of_Ukraine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war covers the period from 1 January to 31 May 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Russo-Ukrainia…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war covers the period from 1 June 2026 to the present day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Russo-Ukrainia…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.