The SSU detained a member of Cherkasy City Council, who headed the local faction of Opposition Platform - For Life, and was also an assistant to the current member of Ukrainian parliament. He not only justified russian aggression against our country, but also planned to head occupation administration in Cherkasy, if the enemy captures the region.

After russia’s full-scale invasion, he did not leave the newly banned party, but actively recruited new like-minded people to this political force.

With one of the accomplices, they carried out information subversive activities for russia. In particular, they:

• claimed that the war unleashed by russia in Ukraine is an exclusively internal civil conflict;
• denied russia’s airstrikes on peaceful cities, including Cherkasy;
• denied commission of crimes by the russian military, spread fakes that Ukrainian Armed Forces were involved in them;
• resented the exchange of Ukrainian POW’s, in particular from the Azov battalion.

The traitors considered it unnecessary to resist the aggressor, were waiting for the occupation and condemned the activities of Ukraine’s military and political leadership.

But when the suspect realized that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were successfully countering russian army and liberating occupied territories, he tried to flee abroad, while his accomplices planned to immigrate to the US. However, the SSU detained the assistant to MP on the eve of his supposed departure.

As a result of searches of the suspects’ homes, investigators seized:

• computer equipment;
• mobile phones with evidence of unlawful activity;
• tickets confirming plans to leave Ukraine.

The SSU has notified the two detained individuals of suspicion under Article 436-2.1, 436-2.3 of the CCU (justification, recognition as legitimate, denying russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

The court is to decide on the type of detention.

The SSU Office in Cherkasy region carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of Cherkasy Region Prosecutor’s Office.