Download Ukrainian not to fund the terrorist country: A selection of services detecting links with russia

Since 2014, Ukrainians have started to boycott goods and services from russia. In response, hundreds of russian owners have re-registered their offshoots to foreign companies and continued profiting from our market. Last year alone, over 700 companies seemingly shed their russian trace. So, barcode scanning mostly does not help Ukrainian buyers. Although you can still find 'remnants' of goods with a production address in russia on the shelves of domestic markets.

Many russian federation (rf) products remain in cyberspace too. Last year, Opendatabot and Netpeak created a comprehensive list of russian-origin software and safe alternatives. However, not all Ukrainian businesses have gotten rid of Bitrix, Tilda, and the like yet.

A separate 'front' are goods from international companies that periodically promise to leave the russian market, but continue to sponsor the rf budget.

Mind has chosen four services that help identify these (un)concealed connections and sponsorship of the terrorist country.

Developer: Mykhailo Mozhaisky

Number of app downloads on Google Play and App Store: over  12 000

Cost: Free

Download from Google Play

Download from App Store

The app detects three groups of goods: those directly by russian companies; firms operating in the russian market; products manufactured in russia. "Our goal is to boycott goods that are connected to the russian economy. If a company works with russia – it pays taxes there, which then go to fund the russian military. In order to stop russia, users and companies around the world must refuse to support the russian economy," says Mozhayev.

He also explains the choice of the app's name ('Zrada' means treason): "After all the horrors that rssia has brought to Ukrainian lands, any business ties with russia must be severed. In our eyes, anything associated with the russian economy is a betrayal. The application helps to find this betrayal."

It works quite simply:

• The user scans the barcode.
• The programme identifies the product based on this data.
• It provides information about the manufacturing company and its relation to russia.

The service also suggests alternatives to products, the manufacturers of which are not associated with russia. The application is free, but users can donate to support it.

This service has a similar functionality. However, it works in Telegram. The chatbot was developed by Ukrainian volunteers. "We are not a state or commercial organisation. All information was taken from open sources and is purely informative. Our goal is to boycott the occupier and all his supporters," explain the developers.

To use the bot, you need to:

• Follow the link or find in Telegram @BoycottRussiaBot;
• Enter the name of a brand or company.

The user may receive three types of messages in response:

• A red indicator: "This is a product of the aggressor country" or "Boycott! The company has not left the russian market";
• A yellow indicator: "The company has not left the rf market, however, it claimed that it is stopping or reducing its activity in russia" and a short explanatory story of the "quit";
• A green indicator: "The company does not do business in russia."

Developer: MacPaw

Cost: Free

Download from App Store

Download extension for Google Chrome

Number of users in Google Chrome: over 2,000

This service not only helps to identify russian and belarusian websites and software products (games, applications, etc.), but also to detect 'spies' among them. SpyBuster scans the device, checks applications, tracks if data is being sent to russian or belarusian servers, and shows a list of sources of unwanted connections. An interactive map demonstrates where data is being sent in real time for each tab.

"SpyBuster ensures online safety for users. When users install the program or browse web pages, they can immediately see and block programmes, services, and sites associated with russia or belarus," MacPaw explains.

The iOS app has a separate function to block these unwanted connections and instantly delete apps. The SpyBuster extension for Google Chrome simply informs about dangerous connections. Thus, the user can independently delete suspicious programs and block sites.

This is a web platform for businesses. Here, companies can check potential contractors for the presence of hidden connections with russian and belarusian assets through a chain of intermediary countries. The service is developed by YouControl. "It can help users protect their business from financial and reputational losses that may arise as a result of cooperation with russian and belarusian companies and individuals who have come under sanctions," the developers explain. Users can integrate the search into their own CRM/ERP systems.

The database contains:

• over 100 data registries;
• over 15 international lists of beneficiaries and owners from CIS countries and the world;
• over 50 sanction lists;
• information about military terrorists: russian special services staff, russian regular military fighters, etc.

Investigators can also use RuAssets. The service is free for journalists, authorised representatives of Ukrainian government and law enforcement agencies. For business clients, a monthly subscription costs 915 euros