The Security Service and the National Police have thwarted an attempt by russia to destabilise the socio-political situation in Ukraine by creating neo-communist cells in eight regions of our state.

As a result of the operation, eight supporters of ruscists were uncovered in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia regions.

The task of these individuals was to create centres of supporters of the Soviet Union in their regions and then use this core to destabilise the situation.

It has been established that they were acting under the ‘supervision’ of a lecturer of the naval academy in St. Petersburg, russia.

The perpetrators created their channels on Telegram and TikTok, through which they sought like-minded people to join the so-called ‘organising committee of the Ukrainian SSR’.

The administrators also used online platforms to spread soviet symbols, agitate for the creation of party ‘cells’ and call for Ukrainian legislation to be ignored.

The investigation revealed that the individuals involved were ideological supporters of ruscism who were waiting for a complete occupation of Ukraine.

A linguistic examination initiated by the SSU confirmed their criminal actions aimed at destabilising the socio-political situation in Ukraine.

Smartphones and computer equipment used to spread kremlin propaganda were seized during searches.

Based on the evidence, eight organizers have been notified of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 109.2 (public calls for forceful change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power, dissemination of materials calling for such actions, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 436-1.1, 436-1.2 (production and distribution of communist and nazi symbols and propaganda of communist and national socialist (nazi) totalitarian regimes, committed by an organized group, using mass media);
• parts 1, 2, 3 of art. 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy).

The suspects face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operational and investigative activities were carried out by the SSU Offices in Kyiv and Kyiv region, Cherkasy, and Kharkiv regions, together with National Police investigators under the procedural supervision of Kyiv City and Cherkasy Region Prosecutor’s Offices.