The Security Service of Ukraine uncovered 10 Russian agitators in four regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, and Vinnytsia regions. They were all working to disrupt mobilization and justify Russia’s armed aggression. In particular, in the Kyiv region, a "political expert" was arrested who often appeared on Viktor Medvedchuk’s TV channels.
He regularly promoted Kremlin narratives there. This was reported by the press service of the SSU. According to media reports, it is about Serhiy Belashko.
Investigators found that he was part of an FSB network, coordinated by the chief editor of the "PolitNavigator" website, Serhiy Stepanov. At the beginning of the full-scale war, the SSU identified this hostile cell. Two members of the Russian agency were detained at that time, and Stepanov, who is hiding in occupied Crimea, was notified of suspicion in absentia.
After February 24, 2022, their accomplice from the Kyiv region "went underground," according to the SSU. The so-called political expert tried to evade justice by using various places of residence in Ukraine.
In Vinnytsia, SSU officers found a 39-year-old administrator of several YouTube and Telegram channels who provided online consultations on how to resist the legitimate actions of the military enlistment office. The case materials also indicate that the figure misappropriated funds that Ukrainian citizens donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Zhytomyr region, three users of a local Telegram channel were detained, where they called for physical reprisals against representatives of the military enlistment office. These individuals "leaked" in chat the geolocations of patrols and mobile checkpoints of Ukrainian military and law enforcement.
In the Chernihiv region, the SSU stopped the subversive activities of a 31-year-old Telegram channel administrator and his four accomplices who spread information about the base points and movement routes of Ukrainian military personnel.
All suspects were notified of suspicion (according to the crimes committed) under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
– part 1, article 111 (treason);
– part 1, article 161 (violation of equality of citizens depending on their racial, national, regional belonging, religious beliefs, disability, and other grounds);
– part 1, article 114-1 (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations during a special period);
– parts 1, 2, article 190 (fraud).