Discredited Ukraine and justified the aggression of the Russian Federation: an underground PR agency was liquidated in the Kyiv region
Kyiv • UNN
The SBU exposed an underground PR agency in the Kyiv region that discredited Ukraine and justified the aggression of the Russian Federation. PR specialists created more than 200 websites and promoted bankers from Putin's entourage.
In the Kyiv region, the Security Service of Ukraine liquidated an underground PR agency that carried out information sabotage against our state in favor of the Russian invaders. This is reported by UNN with reference to the SBU.
The Security Service neutralized another center of Russian special services in the Kyiv region. As a result of complex measures, two professional PR specialists were detained, who, on the orders of Russian special services, committed information sabotage against Ukraine.
SBU officers documented that the defendants in the case acted mostly on the "media market" of the European Union. They created and distributed materials that discredit Ukraine and justify Russian aggression.
To carry out their subversive activities, the PR specialists created more than 200 websites that actually duplicated the official mouthpieces of the Kremlin and were registered on fake accounts to avoid blocking.
In addition, on the instructions of the enemy, the attackers conducted information campaigns in EU countries and justified sanctioned top officials of the aggressor country.
According to the case file, among other things, the PR specialists were also involved in promoting the media image of two bankers closely connected with the Kremlin:
- Igor Shuvalov, the head of the Russian state corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs;
- Andrey Kostin, the chairman of the board of the Moscow bank VTB.
Both individuals are members of Putin's inner circle and are involved in large-scale schemes to finance Russia's armed aggression.
The investigation established that until 2022, these PR specialists were fulfilling commercial orders with Russia. After the start of the full-scale war, their former employer from Russia remotely contacted the men and offered them cooperation with the invaders.
During the searches, computer equipment and mobile phones with evidence of crimes were seized from the detainees.
SBU investigators have notified them of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (treason committed under martial law). Currently, the perpetrators are in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Supplement
In Ukraine, in 2024, 486 offenses were recorded due to complicity with the aggressor state, 35 cases were sent to court.
In total, over the past three years, 1,484 offenses have been recorded in Ukraine due to complicity with the aggressor state.
According to the data provided, the most criminal offenses due to complicity with the aggressor state in 2024 were in:
- Kyiv – 113;
- Kherson region - 66;
- Kharkiv region – 59.