Kherson theater director betrayed Ukraine on stage and on air under the occupiers

The SBU has served a notice of suspicion to Oleksandr Poderecha, the former head of the occupation's Young Spectator Theater in Kherson. He is accused of collaboration, calls for violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and public justification of Russian aggression.

This is stated in the suspicion of the Prosecutor General's Office.

The Security Service of Ukraine Office in Kherson region has served a notice of suspicion to the head of the Kherson Regional Theater for Young Viewers, created by the occupiers.

During the occupation of Kherson, the invaders appointed Oleksandr Poderecha as the so-called director of the theater. As previously reported by the media, he called himself a "simple tavern musician" and admitted that before the occupation he sang Russian chanson in eateries in Odesa and Moscow region, and organized concerts.

Poderecha is registered as an individual entrepreneur in the field of theater and concert activities. According to the investigation, in July 2022, during the occupation of Kherson, he voluntarily agreed to cooperate with representatives of the Russian occupation administration.

He headed an illegally created theater for young viewers, which was used for anti-Ukrainian mass events, spreading Russian propaganda and forming the necessary information field in the occupied territory.

In particular, in September 2022, the man took part in a live broadcast on the Tavria TV and radio company, where he publicly supported the accession of the Kherson region to the Russian Federation, recognized the legitimacy of the occupation of the region and spoke favorably of Putin's actions. In his speech, he called Kherson a "prosperous city" and called coexistence with Russia the only way to "revive the greatness of the region."

In addition to the broadcast, Poderecha appeared in several videos with propaganda statements that were subsequently disseminated on pro-Russian telegram channels and other occupier-controlled resources.

He is currently charged under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• ч. 6 of Art. 111-1 (collaboration);
• ч. 1 of Art. 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine);
• ч. 3 of Art. 436-2 (justification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine).

Currently, law enforcement officers continue to conduct investigative actions.

SBU cyber specialists also exposed the owner of an illegal IT company who collaborated with the enemy during a full-scale war. In addition to working for the so-called Deputy Minister of the occupation administration of Kherson region, he fulfilled more than 40 orders for Russian commercial structures. The suspect is currently in custody and faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Анна Бальчінос