SBU detained four people for supporting an aggressor country

The Security Service of Ukraine has detained four people suspected of activities related to the dissemination of propaganda in favor of the Russian Federation and justification of armed aggression against the country.

According to the investigation, during the searches, smartphones and other media confirming their actions were found on the detainees. Law enforcement officers recorded the facts of the dissemination of hostile narratives through messengers and public chats, as well as calls containing threats to the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

In Kyiv, employees of the SBU cyber unit discovered a local businessman who, according to the investigation, called for the capture of the capital and distributed propaganda materials in Telegram channels. In addition to calls for occupation, he probably denied the facts of the mass killings of civilians in Bucha.

In the Zhytomyr region, suspicion was raised against a resident who used messengers to disseminate false information about the defense forces and the situation at the front. His appeals contain calls for a violent change of power in Ukraine.
Two more people were detained in Odessa. Among them is a tuberculosis doctor who spread pro-Russian messages among colleagues and justified the actions of the Russian military leadership. Another detainee, a resident, imposed propaganda on acquaintances and spoke positively about the actions of the aggressor state.

All detainees were notified of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which relate to a violent change of power, encroachment on territorial integrity, and justification of armed aggression. These crimes are punishable by up to 8 years in prison and confiscation of property.

The operations were carried out by SBU officers in Kyiv and in the Zhytomyr and Odesa regions, under the procedural guidance of local prosecutors’ offices.