SBU Charges Ministry Official for Supporting Putin and Spreading Pro-Russian Propaganda

Ukrainian Cultural Official Detained for Spreading Russian Propaganda

Ukrainian authorities have detained a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Culture on suspicion of spreading Russian propaganda and justifying Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced Thursday.

The official, who heads one of the ministry’s departments, allegedly disseminated pro-Russian messaging among colleagues and acquaintances, according to a joint statement by the SBU and the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.

Investigators uncovered evidence that the suspect shared laudatory quotes from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speeches and attempted to justify Russian missile strikes against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including energy facilities in Kyiv. The official also allegedly spread false information about Ukraine’s Defense Forces and misrepresented the situation at the front lines.

During a search of the suspect’s residence, authorities discovered letters addressed to Putin and other unnamed recipients. The letters, reportedly written on behalf of the suspect’s son, requested assistance in leaving Ukraine because he “does not want to live among Nazis” and sees his future in Russia.

“Linguistic analysis confirmed the suspect’s information-subversive activities in favor of the Russian Federation,” the SBU stated in its report. This evidence forms a key part of the case against the official.

The suspect faces charges under Part 3 of Article 436-2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which criminalizes the justification, recognition as lawful, or denial of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as glorification of those participating in the invasion. If convicted, the official could face up to eight years in prison and confiscation of property.

The case has raised concerns about potential security breaches within the Ministry of Culture, which oversees cultural heritage and national identity initiatives in Ukraine – areas that have been targeted by Russian information warfare since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

In response to the allegations, the Ministry of Culture issued a statement strongly condemning any support for Russia and emphasized that the case represents an isolated incident that does not reflect the ministry’s position.

“Within the Ministry, internal mechanisms for checks and security operate on a continuous basis,” the statement read. “At the same time, given legislative constraints and respect for privacy, such measures cannot cover personal communications outside of official duties.”

The ministry added that the case has prompted additional managerial decisions, including strengthened monitoring of compliance with civil service standards and the development of new risk-monitoring tools.

Security experts note that this incident highlights the ongoing challenge of identifying Russian sympathizers within Ukrainian government institutions. Since the invasion began, Ukrainian counterintelligence has uncovered numerous cases of officials working against state interests, though most previous cases involved security services or local administrations rather than cultural institutions.

The revelation is particularly troubling given the Ministry of Culture’s role in preserving Ukrainian national identity during wartime. Russia has consistently used cultural narratives as part of its justification for the invasion, claiming to be protecting Russian speakers and Russian culture in Ukraine.

The case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine whether the suspect was acting alone or as part of a wider network. The incident has prompted calls for enhanced security vetting procedures across government ministries.

Ukrainian authorities have not disclosed the identity of the official or details about how long the alleged propaganda activities had been ongoing before detection.