The SSU has collected evidence against two Odesa-based pseudo-journalists who filmed staged videos commissioned by russian TV channels.

One of the suspects is a former cameraman of Odesa State Television, who began collaborating with the russian channel ren-TV after the full-scale invasion.

At the propagandists’ request, the man agreed to shoot a provocative video about mobilization in Ukraine. For UAH 8,000, he hired his friend to play a ‘military commissar’ from a local recruitment centre.

Together, they did a video with the ‘military commissar’ describing how he had to ‘hunt’ men of conscription age in order to avoid mobilization himself.

This fake was aired on russian ren-TV and was then picked up by over 20 propaganda outlets, including the largest federal TV channels.

The SSU-initiated psychological and linguistic examinations of the video confirmed the suspects’ criminal actions.

The SSU is also checking the cameraman’s involvement in filming several paid-for stories on events related to Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

The investigation established that after leaving the state television, the man had worked at the Odesa branch of the Independent Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

After russia’s full-scale invasion, he actively called on social media to support the occupiers and justified their war crimes. In this way, the traitor came to the attention of kremlin propagandists and began working for them.

During the searches at the suspects’ homes, the SSU found and seized:

• mobile phones, computers, equipment for professional video recording and electronic data carriers with evidence of the unlawful activity;
• video footage;
• actor’s props: military uniforms and make-up.

The two persons involved have been notified of suspicion under Article 111-1.6 of the CCU (organization and conducting of political events, information activities in cooperation with the aggressor state aimed at supporting it and/or evading responsibility for armed aggression against Ukraine).

The suspects are facing up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The court has chosen custody as a measure of restraint.

The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Odesa region exposed the offenders in coordination with the SSU National Statehood Protection Department and under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.