Latest news with #SecurityServiceofUkraine
LeMonde
6 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Viktoria Krykunova's 'double punishment': Refugee from eastern Ukraine faces enemy collaboration charges
Among the dates Viktoria Krykunova can recall, there is August 14, 2023. The day began at dawn – a year after she had fled Russian occupation in her hometown in eastern Ukraine and found refuge in the Kyiv suburbs. It was 7 am on that Monday when her life changed. She and her husband, Ivan, were getting dressed. Their young son, Vlad, was still asleep in his room. There was a knock at the door: seven men from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). "Viktoria Krykunova, you are under criminal investigation for collaborating with the occupiers. We have a search warrant for your apartment." The apartment was then ransacked, her computer searched and their cell phones confiscated. "I didn't feel like I was a threat to my country," she said on May 24, nearly two years later. "I stayed calm and told the whole truth." That truth is that when she lived in occupied Svatove – a city of about 20,000 residents before the war – Krykunova worked for a pension office that distributed retirement funds now paid for by Russia. She insisted it was solely to survive and care for her family.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine arrests two suspects accused of extorting foreign defense supplier
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested two individuals in Kyiv accused of attempting to extort $200,000 from a European defense company, potentially jeopardizing the delivery of electronic warfare (EW) systems to Ukraine's military, the SBU reported on June 14. The suspects allegedly demanded the payment in exchange for facilitating the successful testing and adoption of five radio electronic warfare systems provided to Ukraine at no cost, according to statements released by the SBU and the Prosecutor General's Office. The devices, supplied by a private foreign manufacturer, were financed by Ukraine's international partners. The producer had already delivered five systems to Ukraine, with additional contracts possible if the equipment performed well in combat conditions, the SBU said. According to investigators, the suspects falsely claimed to have influence within Ukraine's Defense Ministry and promised to use their connections to ensure positive evaluations of the equipment. "Under the guise of having contacts within the ministry, the men demanded $200,000 from the company in exchange for ensuring no obstacles during official trials of the equipment," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement. Both men have been formally charged under Ukraine's Criminal Code for alleged obstruction of the Armed Forces and receiving unlawful benefits through influence peddling. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to eight years in prison and asset confiscation. The arrests were made as part of a broader investigation led by the SBU and conducted under the procedural oversight of the Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing to identify all individuals involved. Ukraine continues to rely heavily on international military assistance as it defends against Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year. Ukraine uses EW systems during Russian attacks on its cities and on the front line. Kyiv and its Western partners launched an electronic warfare coalition in April, which consists of 11 countries and comes on top of other eight Western coalitions to support Ukraine. Other similar initiatives include an artillery coalition, a fighter jet coalition, and a demining coalition, organized within the framework of the Ramstein format. Read also: From buffer zone to new front: Russia pushes deeper into Sumy Oblast We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Russian FSB agent planned to commit terrorist act at playground in Odesa – Ukraine's Security Service
The Security Service of Ukraine has reported that it had prevented a terrorist attack in Odesa by detaining an agent of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) who was planning to blow up a Ukrainian soldier. Source: Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Details: A special operation resulted in the detention of a Russian agent who was tasked with blowing up an officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The investigators revealed that the 31-year-old resident of Odesa Oblast, recruited through Telegram channels, was the perpetrator of the order from the Russian Federation. The SSU explains that the agent was initially given a so-called "test" task, to set fire to a military vehicle. After completing this, the man received instructions on how to organise an assassination attempt. The case file shows that the Russians informed him of a hiding place with components for explosives, which were to be planted at the military's place of residence, a playground in one of Odesa's residential districts. Then, Russian secret services planned to remotely activate the improvised explosive device using a mobile phone with which the explosives were equipped. The SSU operatives detained the perpetrator in the act of planting an explosive device at the site of the planned terrorist attack. The detainee was served with a notice of suspicion under the following articles: completed attempted terrorist act by prior conspiracy, intentional destruction of property by arson by prior conspiracy and obstruction of the lawful activity of the Armed Forces during a special period committed by prior conspiracy. A custodial detention without the right to be released on bail was chosen as a measure of restraint. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine repatriates bodies of 1,200 citizens, soldiers under Istanbul deal with Russia
Ukraine has brought home the bodies of 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers and citizens as part of an agreement with Russia in Istanbul, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of the Prisoners of War (POWs) announced on June 13. The repatriation comes after Ukraine brought back the bodies of 1,212 fallen service members earlier this week, with Moscow voicing readiness to release the remains of some 6,000 Ukrainians total during recent peace talks in Istanbul. The headquarters coordinated the operation with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ombudsman's Office, the military, the Interior Ministry, and other state and defense bodies. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also provided assistance. It is not immediately clear whether Ukraine released the bodies of Russian soldiers in return. During the previous exchange on June 11, Moscow claimed it had repatriated the bodies of 27 Russian service members. At the Istanbul meeting on June 2, Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed on a new exchange of POWs but failed to reach a ceasefire agreement. The talks led to the most extensive prisoner swap in late May, involving 1,000 captives on each side. The exchanges continued this week, focusing on severely ill and wounded soldiers. Russia accused Ukraine on June 7 of failing to uphold a proposed prisoner exchange, a charge Kyiv denied. Russian media published footage showing refrigerated containers allegedly holding the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, suggesting Kyiv had rejected their return. POW Coordination Headquarters deputy head Andrii Yusov told Ukrainian Pravda that the footage had been filmed inside Russia and not at a designated exchange site. Kyiv has repeatedly urged Moscow to adopt an "all-for-all" prisoner exchange formula. While over 5,000 Ukrainians have been returned from Russian captivity since March 2022, Russia continues to resist a comprehensive swap. Read also: Ukraine, Russia carry out another exchange of POWs under Istanbul deal We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's Security Service serves Russian rapper Timati with notice of suspicion
The Security Service of Ukraine has gathered evidence and served Russian singer and propagandist Timur Yunusov (better known by his stage name Timati) with a notice of suspicion. Source: Security Service of Ukraine Quote: "According to the case file, Yunusov is a participant in Russian propaganda efforts, who was Putin's confidant during the presidential elections in 2012, 2018 and 2024, participated in his inauguration and in events celebrating his victory in the 'elections'. In addition, Timati supported Russian aggression, the annexation of Crimea and the violation of Ukraine's fundamental rights to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity." Details: The Security Service of Ukraine also noted that Timati participated in at least seven propaganda concerts on the temporarily occupied peninsula, which were aimed at legitimising the occupation of Crimea. Based on evidence gathered by the investigators, he was served with a notice of suspicion under Article 332-1.2 of the Criminal Code (violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine with the aim of harming state interests, committed repeatedly). The pre-trial investigation is being conducted under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
