Ukrainian Security Service Detains Pro-Russian Supporters for Spreading War Propaganda

Ukrainian authorities have detained three Russian supporters across different regions for promoting enemy propaganda and justifying war crimes, according to a statement from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

In Kharkiv, the SBU’s military counterintelligence apprehended a 55-year-old service station employee who had been using an anonymous Telegram profile to encourage Russian forces to strike Kyiv with “Oryeshnykom,” a reference to Russian missile systems. The suspect had been actively disseminating pro-Russian messaging through multiple social media channels.

Also in the Kharkiv region, authorities detained a monk from a men’s monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), or UOC (MP). The religious figure had been using pro-Kremlin social media groups to call for Russian forces to capture Kharkiv and integrate the region into the Russian Federation. Investigators revealed that the monk expressed similar sentiments during in-person conversations with parishioners at his religious community.

During a search of the monk’s residence, authorities discovered more than 2.5 million Ukrainian hryvnia (approximately $63,000) in various currencies, including Russian rubles. The discovery of Russian currency has raised questions about possible financial connections to Russian entities, though officials have not made specific allegations regarding the source of the funds.

In a separate operation in the Mykolaiv region, SBU cyber specialists collaborated with the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) and the National Police to detain the head of a temporary detention facility. The official had created a TikTok account under a fictitious name to justify Russian war crimes in Bucha, where evidence of civilian massacres emerged following the Russian retreat from the Kyiv region in early 2022.

A linguistic examination commissioned by the SBU confirmed that all three individuals had engaged in information-subversive activities promoting Russian interests. During searches of the suspects’ residences, authorities seized smartphones and computer equipment containing evidence of their illegal activities.

All three suspects remain in custody and face serious criminal charges. Under Ukrainian law, publicly supporting Russian aggression and justifying war crimes can result in up to eight years in prison along with property confiscation. These charges have become increasingly common since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The arrests highlight Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to combat Russian information operations within its borders. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have intensified operations against individuals suspected of promoting Russian propaganda, providing intelligence to Russian forces, or otherwise undermining Ukrainian security.

The detention of a UOC (MP) monk particularly underscores the complex religious dynamics in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church with Moscow Patriarchate ties has faced increased scrutiny since the invasion began, with Ukrainian authorities conducting searches at numerous monasteries and churches associated with the Moscow-aligned branch.

These latest detentions are part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian counterintelligence operations targeting what authorities describe as Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics, which combine conventional military operations with information warfare and influence campaigns designed to weaken Ukrainian resistance and social cohesion.

Security experts note that identifying and neutralizing internal propaganda networks remains a critical component of Ukraine’s national defense strategy as the war approaches its third year, with Russian forces continuing offensive operations in eastern Ukraine while launching regular missile and drone strikes against cities throughout the country.