Ukrainian Security Service Dismantles Pro-Russian Propaganda Network Across Four Regions

Ukrainian Security Service Dismantles Pro-Russian “People’s Rule” Cell Operating Across Four Regions

Ukrainian authorities have uncovered and neutralized a network of pro-Russian operatives who were actively spreading Kremlin propaganda and denying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) documented the activities of participants in a so-called “people’s rule” cell operating across the Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, and Zhytomyr regions.

According to SBU spokesperson for Zhytomyr region, Iryna Martyniuk, the group’s primary goal was to destabilize Ukraine’s socio-political situation, openly deny Russia’s armed aggression, and discredit Ukrainian defense forces.

“The cell’s leader was a 64-year-old resident of Kryvyi Rih who created a YouTube channel to spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda,” Martyniuk revealed. SBU officers successfully identified the ideological leader in Kryvyi Rih and subsequently dismantled the network’s branches in the other regions.

Investigators determined that the cell’s participants refused to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty, the legitimacy of its government institutions, and the country’s current legal framework. Instead, they propagated narratives suggesting alleged “involvements” between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, effectively serving as mouthpieces for Russian propaganda.

The SBU initiated linguistic examinations of the content disseminated by the group, which confirmed the illegal nature of the material. The YouTube channel, created in April 2022, contained nearly 500 videos promoting Kremlin narratives and was freely accessible to the public.

Anna Ostrovska, spokesperson for the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor’s Office, provided a chronology of the group’s activities. “The channel was created in April 2022, when its author from the Dnipropetrovsk region published video recordings denying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine,” she explained.

In July 2024, the channel’s creator and an associate conducted a livestream attempting to manipulate Ukraine’s socio-political situation by placing blame for the Russian-initiated war on Ukraine itself. This stream was subsequently posted to the YouTube channel for public viewing. By February 2025, the suspect had released yet another video address justifying and denying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

The investigation into this underground network of what authorities describe as a fake “people’s rule” organization is ongoing. Under the procedural leadership of the Zhytomyr Regional Prosecutor’s Office, investigators have already informed two defendants of their suspicion under Part 3 of Article 436-2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which criminalizes “justification, recognition as lawful or denial of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as the glorification of its participants.”

“As a result of expert examination of the items seized during authorized searches, a decision will be made on the final legal qualification of the actions of all those involved,” Martyniuk stated.

The 64-year-old cell leader has been formally charged under Part 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code, while another suspect faces charges under Part 1 of the same article. These provisions carry various restrictions and punishments depending on the degree of culpability established.

This case highlights Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russian information warfare and domestic collaborators. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukrainian security services have intensified efforts to identify and neutralize individuals and groups spreading pro-Russian propaganda within Ukraine’s borders.

The dismantling of this network demonstrates the SBU’s commitment to countering information threats during wartime, as Russian propaganda remains a significant component of Moscow’s hybrid warfare strategy against Ukraine. Experts note that such operations typically aim to sow discord, undermine public trust in Ukrainian institutions, and create favorable conditions for Russian military objectives.

The pre-trial investigation continues as authorities work to identify any additional members of the network and determine the full extent of their activities.