Website with Canadian links exposes pilots’ identities
Russia says it expects an ‘appropriate reaction’ from Ottawa
An Ukrainian website with links to Canada plans to continue publishing personal information about Russian pilots flying bombing missions in Syria, despite concerns such details are putting aircrews at risk from Islamist extremists.
Russia has protested to the Canadian government about the website, which has its servers in Montreal, and has demanded the information be removed.
The InformNapalm website has published the names and photos of Russian pilots, with details of their specific units and geographic locations. It also has published photographs of personal identification documents of some aircrews, such as their passports.
Volunteers with the website comb Russian media outlets and social media sites for information about the military personnel. The website notes that it obtains “insider information.”
The website has issued an ultimatum to the Russian government — each time the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine is violated by “Russian terrorist forces” it will publish personal information about Russian military in Syria.
Kirill Kalinin, spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Canada, said the federal government has been “duly informed on this matter. The Russian side expects appropriate reaction on this security-related issue.”
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters the country’s security services are tracking activities on the website and “will take all needed actions to ensure the security of the Russian servicemen.”
Global Affairs Canada says it is looking into the situation. “We are aware of Russia’s concerns on this matter, and relevant Canadian authorities are investigating,” spokeswoman Rachna Mishra said in an email.
Those operating the website didn’t respond to a request for comment. In form Napalm has said on its site that it is aware of the Russian concerns about the information being used by extremists but it dismisses those as “nothing but a campaign to discredit” its volunteers. The website said Russia is not fighting ISIL but instead conducting airstrikes on Syrian civilians and areas controlled by moderate Syrian forces.
The Russians say the Ukrainian site is hosted by OVH in Montreal.
OVH is an Internet service provider with operations in various countries, including Canada. OVH was contacted Friday but has yet to provide comment.