SBU finds bloggers who “covered” air defense work in Kyiv
Law enforcers have identified six Kyiv residents who distributed photos and videos of air defense forces, the SBU reported. They now face up to eight years in prison.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has identified six Kyiv residents who illegally disseminated information about the work of the air defense forces during Russia’s latest massive missile attack on Kyiv. According to a statement issued by the special service on Wednesday, May 17, on the night of May 16, they took unauthorized photos and videos of Ukrainian air defense and posted the relevant materials on social media.
Among other things, these people recorded the results of Russian cruise and ballistic missile strikes. “In this way, they could reveal the location and specifics of the Ukrainian air defense system. In a matter of minutes, these videos were picked up by numerous Telegram channels and Russian propaganda publics. Among them are Internet resources controlled by the special services of the aggressor country,” the SBU noted.
Law enforcement officers initiated criminal proceedings under the article on unauthorized dissemination of information on the direction, movement of weapons, movement, relocation or deployment of the Armed Forces committed under martial law (part two of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The defendants face up to eight years in prison.
Online cameras that recorded air defense work were blocked
In addition, SBU cyber specialists blocked the operation of online cameras that automatically recorded the work of Ukrainian air defense. According to the investigation, the detected video cameras are on the balance sheet of several commercial structures in Kyiv. At the same time, access to the footage was open to a wide range of users who posted the video of the night attack on Kyiv to the public on the Youtube video service.
“The information thus obtained could be used by the occupiers to adjust repeated air strikes on the capital of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian special service suggests.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine also announced the launch of an investigation into the unauthorized dissemination of information about the movement, relocation or deployment of the Armed Forces under martial law, and also reminded that criminal liability is provided for adjusting enemy fire.
