SBU uncovers informant network in Mykolaiv

The Telegram channel, which began as a platform for pro-Russian propaganda, later turned into a tool for gathering intelligence on Ukrainian troops. Among its active participants, investigators identified a resident of Mykolaiv who is suspected of passing critical information to the enemy.

This is stated in the decision of the Central District Court of Mykolaiv.

According to the case file, even before the full-scale invasion, a Telegram channel was created targeting a pro-Russian audience. It disseminated narratives justifying Russian aggression and communicated with supporters of collaborationism. With the beginning of the invasion in 2022, the channel's activities were transformed - it began to collect operational information about the consequences of shelling, and later about the movement of Ukrainian troops and weapons.

It turned out that the organizer of this community had already been sentenced to 15 years in prison for high treason. At the same time, investigators found that one of the active participants of the channel was a resident of Mykolaiv, who, according to law enforcement, was aware that the administrators were cooperating with Russian special services.

Investigators claim that the suspect knowingly joined the data collection and transmission. In particular, in November 2025, he transmitted information about the work of Ukrainian air defense and its location in the coastal zone of Mykolaiv through personal messages.

In the message, he wrote:"Hi! The third "biker" has already buzzed, and only on the third one did the air defense system start to work... No explosions are heard in Korabelne, the air defense system is working somewhere from the coastline in the area of Mayak."

In addition, the man transmitted data on the location of mobile fire groups of the AFU, as well as on the movement of military equipment. In January 2026, he again sent information about the movement of weapons and convoys of vehicles that could be identified on the ground.

According to the investigation, all this information was intended for further transmission to representatives of Russian special services and military formations engaged in hostilities against Ukraine.

The suspect was detained in February 2026. He is charged with high treason, which carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The judge extended the pre-trial investigation to four months and remanded the man in custody until at least June 8, 2026.

Currently, law enforcement officers are checking the possible involvement of other members in the community, which had more than 33,000 users and could act as an extensive network of informants.

Also in April, in Mykolaiv, the SBU exposed a man who administered a closed Telegram community to coordinate mobilization evasion. He not only distributed the locations of the TCCs, but also created instructions on how to counteract the military.

Анна Бальчінос