Russian pranksters trick Rick Perry into discussing pig manure

US Energy Secretary Rick Perry believed he was taking a 20-minute call with the prime minister of Ukraine on the possible use of pig manure as an energy source.

But, in reality, he had become the latest high-profile victim of Russian pranksters Vladimir “Vovan” Kuznetsov and Alexei “Lexus” Stolyarov, the Washington Post reports.

“Secretary Perry is the latest target of two Russian pranksters,” Department of Energy Spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes told The Washington Post. “These individuals are known for pranking high level officials and celebrities, particularly those who are supportive of an agenda that is not in line with their governments. In this case, the energy security of Ukraine.”

Previous victims of the duo’s pranks include singer Elton John, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a Croatian prime minister, the Washington Post said, though it noted that some of the pranks may be fabrications.

During the call Perry spoke of a Russian gas pipeline across the Baltic sea, cyberattacks on the US power grid and the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.

“I hope that stepping away from the Paris accord will not have any negative impact with our relationship with the Ukraine,” Perry said. “We tried to divorce the politics from this and really just let our record stand, one that I’m very proud of.”

The pranksters, for the most part, maintained their disguise. The only time they broke character was to discuss a ‘new biofuel invented by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’ made from home-brewed alcohol and pig manure.

Perry told them he would like more information about this ‘scientific development’.

The success of the prank may be attributed to timing. Perry had recently met with the Ukrainian prime minister, Volodymyr Groysman, at the Department of Energy. The pranksters contacted the department three weeks later and requested a follow-up call to the meeting. Perry took the call on Jul 19.