The Security Service of Ukraine has completed its pre-trial investigation into Vladimir Bortko, a russian director, screenwriter and former state duma member who promotes russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

The SSU has now submitted the indictment to the court. The suspect faces up to eight years’ imprisonment and the confiscation of his property.

The investigation revealed that Bortko publicly calls for the war to continue, denies Ukrainian statehood, and advocates the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

The director is well known for the russian TV series Gangster Petersburg and Streets of Broken Lanterns. He has combined his film career with providing political support to the kremlin regime.

During the investigation, the Security Service documented numerous instances of his provocative statements between 2017 and 2026.

For example, during an appearance on the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio programme, he once again called for a nuclear strike against Ukraine. He also called for Kyiv to be captured, and for the entire territory of Ukraine to be taken over.

Based on the evidence collected, Bortko has been charged under two Articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• 436 (propaganda of war);
• 436-2.3 (production and dissemination of materials that justify, recognise as lawful, or deny russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, committed repeatedly using mass media).

As the suspect is currently in russia, efforts to bring him to justice are underway.

The investigation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.