Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has detained eight more people accused of promoting Russia’s war from inside the country, the SBU reported. The suspects allegedly backed the invasion online, called for heavier strikes on Ukraine, and justified Russian war crimes. They face years in prison.
Suspects detained across six regions
- The cases stretch from Kyiv to Odesa. In Kyiv, SBU cyber specialists detained a security company’s cash courier. He allegedly spread falsehoods about Ukraine’s Defense Forces and called for the country’s seizure. On work trips, he allegedly photographed checkpoints and mobilization patrols in secret. He then marked their locations and leaked them with calls to disrupt the draft.
- In Sumy, investigators served notice of suspicion to a Telegram channel administrator. He allegedly praised Russian fighters for shelling the regional center. The blogger also allegedly urged Russia to strike Ukraine with a “Sarmat” nuclear missile.
- In Dnipro, the SBU exposed an alleged member of an underground “fake people’s power” cell. The woman allegedly called for a coup and denied Russian war crimes, including mass strikes on Ukrainian cities. She allegedly posted hostile content to Facebook and TikTok pages reaching almost 8,000 users. Officers also detained a Kryvyi Rih resident who allegedly urged Russia to hit Kyiv with nuclear weapons.
A soldier who denied the war
- In Chernihiv Oblast, SBU military counterintelligence and the State Bureau of Investigation exposed a mobilized serviceman. He allegedly denied that Russia’s full-scale invasion was even happening. Witnesses say he regularly backed the Kremlin and justified Russian war crimes. Officers detained him in Poltava, where he had fled his unit after training.
From Zhytomyr chats to TikTok streams aired from Russia
- In Zhytomyr Oblast, cyber specialists exposed two unemployed suspects who allegedly praised the Kremlin and Russian armed groups. One allegedly justified Russian war crimes in Bucha. The other allegedly called for more strikes on Defense Forces positions with guided aerial bombs.
- In Odesa Oblast, counterintelligence officers detained an agitator who allegedly urged Russia to seize the region and “annex” it. To spread the propaganda, he allegedly joined online broadcasts aired from Russian territory.
Linguistic analyses confirmed the suspects’ information-subversion activity served Russia, the SBU said. They have been served notice of suspicion under several articles of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, including attempts to seize state power, war propaganda, and justifying Russia’s aggression.
Kyiv IT worker jailed for life — court finds he helped Russia strike the power grid that heats his city
Recent SBU cases
Russia’s pull on people inside Ukraine shows up again and again — it keeps trying to enlist Ukrainians through Telegram for sabotage and spying. The SBU and the National Police deal with such cases on a regular basis.
On 23 June, the SBU reported detaining another spotter for Russian air attacks on Zaporizhzhia — a local mobilized man who left his unit to work with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Separately, the SBU and National Police foiled a plot by two FSB agents to blow up an administrative building in central Kyiv.
On 17 June, the SBU detained a Kherson region woman suspected of collaboration and pro-Russian propaganda during the occupation. On 15 June, officers held a Chornomorsk woman who allegedly rigged “video traps” on the Kyiv Reservoir to guide strikes on the capital, including the 24 May 2026 attack. Earlier, a court sentenced a former Shostka councilman to 15 years for guiding Russian strikes in Sumy Oblast.
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