Aug. 14, 2025, 7 p.m.

SBU arrests 12 of Medvedchuk's associates

(Viktor Medvedchuk. PHOTO: Reuters)

The Security Service of Ukraine has detained accomplices who are conducting information attacks in Ukraine on behalf of Russia.

This was reported by the SBU.

The collected evidence base reveals a large-scale network of information saboteurs operating under the leadership of Viktor Medvedchuk. According to the SBU, this group, which was hiding in Moscow under the name "Other Ukraine," was engaged in media attacks on the country, and its activities were financed and coordinated by the Russian FSB. Key testimony was provided by Kirill Molchanov, a political expert from Medvedchuk's pool who was detained in Poland. The investigation found that he worked for two of the aggressor's special services, and his phone contained correspondence with the first deputy of the FSB's fifth service, Lieutenant General Georgy Grishayev.

The propagandists were engaged in justifying Russian aggression, discrediting Ukraine in the international arena, and trying to undermine the internal situation in partner countries. Medvedchuk himself approved the creation of the organization personally with Putin, and then formed a staff of top management and propagandists from his sanctioned TV channels. <span>They prepared and distributed anti-Ukrainian content through controlled telegram channels, YouTube and the Voice of Europe mouthpiece. </span>

<span>Based on the evidence gathered, the SBU served Medvedchuk and his subordinates, who are currently hiding in Russia, with a notice of suspicion in absence. The detained Molchanov faces life imprisonment for high treason, and the investigation continues to bring all those responsible to justice.</span> The list of accused includes:

Among them is a deputy of the Odesa City Council, Bohdan Hihanov, previously elected from the OPFL party, known for systemic Russian propaganda and calls for Ukraine's surrender, arguing that this is the only reasonable solution.

The crimes of the defendants are qualified under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely: public calls for the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order, high treason under martial law, collaboration, violation of the equality of citizens and justification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation. In addition, Medvedchuk's detained associate Kirill Molchanov was separately notified of additional suspicion of working for enemy special services, for which he faces life imprisonment.

Катерина Глушко

You might also like:

Feb. 6, 2026

Head of the artistic and production department of the musical comedy theater dies in Odesa

Police officers detained in Odesa on suspicion of extortion from drivers

Zoo wars: opinion of animal rights activists and officials

A restaurant and fitness center in a pseudo-hotel on the coast are put up for sale in Odesa

Last year, 117 fines for advertising violations were issued in Odesa region

Head of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation is suspected for the elections in Kherson region

Law enforcers have not ruled out that the soldier killed in the explosion in Odesa made the bomb himself

Dobroslav increases spending plans for defense and school meals

In Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, six times more was spent on landscaping than on TRS

Car explosion in Odesa classified as a terrorist attack

The project of reconstruction of the City Garden without the Summer Theater was excluded from the agenda of the session

Possible terrorist attack: car explodes in Odesa

Feb. 5, 2026

The port of Reni has put up for auction a warehouse area of the berth

The lease of the building of the infectious diseases department of the district hospital may be terminated in Izmail

Farm manager's land seized in Odesa region due to forgery of documents