The Security Service of Ukraine has detained a further four pro-kremlin online agitators who justified russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and the war crimes committed by ruscists.

In Kherson, the SSU Counterintelligence uncovered an enemy propagandist who was spreading disinformation about the Defence Forces and supporting russia’s occupation administrations in temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the information subversion was carried out by a local unemployed man evading mobilisation.

Hardly ever leaving his home, he regularly posted messages in support of ruscism in Telegram group chats.

The SSU cyber team detained another agitator in the regional centre. She was a local seamstress who had been posting messages in support of the full-scale war against Ukraine and the temporary occupation of Ukrainian territory.

In Cherkasy, a local unemployed woman was arrested for denying russia’s armed aggression on Telegram, portraying it as an ‘internal civil conflict’ in Ukraine.

She also justified the temporary occupation of Crimea and parts of Ukraine’s eastern regions, calling on russia to annex the whole country.

During the searches of the detainees’ premises, smartphones and computer equipment containing evidence of criminal activity and pro-russian symbols were seized.

In the Sumy region, a resident of Okhtyrka was exposed for disseminating hostile content in Telegram groups.

The suspect published posts calling for the occupation of Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv. Furthermore, he supported missile and bomb strikes on Ukrainian cities and justified russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

A forensic linguistic analysis initiated by the SSU confirmed the suspect’s involvement in subversive information activities on behalf of russia.

SSU investigators have notified the perpetrators of suspicion under three Articles of the CCU:

• 436-2 (justifying, recognising as lawful or denying russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine and glorifying its participants);
• 161.1 (intentionally inciting national enmity and hatred, and humiliating national honour and dignity);
• 110.1 (encroaching upon the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine).

The perpetrators face up to eight years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operations were carried out by the SSU Offices in Kherson, Cherkasy and Sumy regions under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutors’ Offices.