The Security Service of Ukraine has exposed a further five pro-kremlin agitators in several regions of Ukraine. The perpetrators justified russia’s armed aggression and war crimes, in particular the strikes on Ukrainian cities.

In Odesa, the SSU Counterintelligence detained the head of one of the city council’s district administrations, who had praised the temporary occupation of Ukraine’s eastern regions.

It has been documented that she published her anti-Ukrainian posts in various Telegram group chats.

In Zaporizhzhia, the SSU exposed a local resident who, after deserting his military unit, attempted to secure a job at a defence plant.

The investigation revealed that the deserter had posted pro-kremlin comments on the russian social media platforms Odnoklassniki and VKontakte, glorifying russian armed groupings.

In Sumy, the head of one of the city council’s municipal institutions came under suspicion. As has been established, the official justified russian strikes on the regional centre, and also campaigned in support of the russian armed groupings.

She disseminated pro-kremlin content in the form of comments in Telegram channel chat rooms.

In Kherson, the SSU cyber team exposed a local unemployed woman who had registered with an enemy chatbot to pass on intelligence to the aggressor state regarding the internal situation in the frontline city.

The russian intelligence services use this online platform to gather information on the Defence Forces and members of the resistance movement on the left bank of the southern region.

In Cherkasy, another agitator was exposed. He was spreading disinformation on Telegram about the Ukrainian military and the operational situation at the front, as well as denying russia’s full-scale aggression.

Forensic linguistic examinations initiated by the SSU confirmed the suspects’ involvement in subversive information activities in russia’s interests.

During the searches of the detainees’ premises, mobile phones and computer equipment containing evidence of the offences were seized.

SSU investigators notified the individuals involved of suspicion of committing offences under the Articles of the CCU:

• 436-2 (justifying, recognising as lawful, or denying russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, and glorifying its participants);
• 407.5 (unauthorised absence from a military unit, committed under martial law).

The suspects face between 8 and 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operational and investigative activities were carried out by the SSU Offices in the Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kherson and Cherkasy regions under the procedural guidance of the regional Prosecutors’ Offices.