Sarah Bils, 37, a former US Navy vet is reportedly being investigated by the FBI after she was identified as a pro-Russian propagandist who was linked to the site that spreads misinformation about the war in Ukraine.
She is accused of having a key role in spreading intelligence documents that were allegedly leaked by Jack Teixeira, who is part of the US Air National Guard.
Also Read | Can Jack Teixeira, Pentagon documents leak suspect, be protected as a whistleblower?
Who is former Navy officer Sarah Bils?
Sarah Bils served at the US Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island in Washington until late 2022. S he worked as an aviation electronics technician. It was revealed that Bills has another online personality, “Donbass Devushka,” which translates to Donbas Girl. The personality is behind a vast network of pro-Kremlin blogs, podcasts, and fundraising accounts.
Initially, she had misled her online audience into believing she was a Ukraine-born woman backing Russia’s invasion. However, in reality, she is from New Jersey and now lives in Oak Harbor, Washington.
Apart from her military service, she is known for her career as a podcaster.
Also Read | How did Jack Teixeira obtain the leaked Pentagon documents? Republicans vs Democrats heats up after arrest
The pro-Ukraine North Atlantic Fella Organization (NAFO) reported that Bills used her real personality in her podcast called the Aquarium Co-op Podcast, where she disclosed her love for tropical fish.
On Sunday, Bils told the Wall Street Journal that she was an admin for the Donbass Devushka persona. However, “all over the world” there were about 14 others who ran her network. It was reported that her activities are being investigated by the FBI. “She is actively under federal investigation, but the circumstances of the content of the investigation are unclear at this time,” a US official told the newspaper.
During another interview, Bils claimed that the FBI has been investigating alleged death threats made against her. She also disclosed the fact that she discussed the classified documents leaks with agents at the bureau.