Russian TV presenter faces prison term for financing war in Kherson region

A TV presenter and actress from Moscow changed her profession to a "war correspondent" to raise funds for drones and ammunition for the units occupying Kherson region. Now the propagandist faces prison for financing the Russian army and publicly calling for redrawing Ukraine's borders.

This was reported by the press service of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The investigation found that in September 2022, Russian propagandists filmed and released a film in which one of the key figures was a 59-year-old resident of Moscow, an actress and TV presenter who works for Russian television and radio channels. In a recorded interview, she openly called for the seizure of Ukrainian territories, including Donbas, claiming that these lands "historically belong to Russia," and spread narratives about alleged "genocide" by the Ukrainian authorities.

After the full-scale invasion began, she began to position herself as a "war correspondent." Using this image, she opened accounts in Russian banking institutions and repeatedly organized fundraisers to support the Russian military. This money was used to purchase clothing, personal protective equipment, medicines, as well as drones, night vision devices, ammunition and other equipment for the needs of the occupation forces.

In January 2023, the suspect was in the temporarily occupied territory - in the town of Hola Prystan, Skadovsk district. There, she personally handed over material resources to units of the Russian armed forces that could be used in hostilities against Ukraine, including tools for repairing equipment, generators, thermal imagers, helmets and other equipment.

Each of these transfers was accompanied by videos that were subsequently published on telegram channels associated with Russian "war correspondents." Law enforcement officers have now served her with a notice of suspicion in absence.

An entrepreneur from Genichesk was also sentenced for financing the enemy and working in the occupation council. According to the case file, he participated in promoting the decisions and activities of the Russian-controlled administration in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region, and spread messages aimed at undermining confidence in the Ukrainian government.

Анна Бальчінос