Traitors in the media: SBU exposes 12 Medvedchuk’s henchmen who worked for the Russian FSB

15 August 06:25

TheSecurity Service of Ukraine has gathered a large-scale evidence base against a group of Russian FSB “information saboteurs” acting under the leadership of former MP Viktor Medvedchuk, a suspect in high treason. According to the investigation, they systematically conducted media attacks against Ukraine, working in the interests of the Kremlin. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the SBU.

The “Other Ukraine” organization and Medvedchuk’s role

We are talking about 12 members of the criminal group “Other Ukraine”, which is officially registered in Moscow as a public association. In reality, it fulfills the tasks of the Russian special services.

The project is led by Viktor Medvedchuk. According to investigators, he personally approved the creation of this structure with Vladimir Putin, after which the Kremlin instructed the FSB to coordinate the organization’s activities.

Medvedchuk himself formed its “staff” – it included former top managers and propagandists of his sanctioned TV channels, most of whom left for Russia after the outbreak of a full-scale war.

Testimony of Kirill Molchanov

The key testimony in the case was provided by Kirill Molchanov, a “political expert” from Medvedchuk’s media pool who was detained in Poland this spring. He is currently under arrest in Kyiv and is cooperating with the investigation.

The investigation found that Molchanov simultaneously worked for two Russian special services – the FSB and foreign intelligence. Correspondence with Lieutenant General Georgy Grishayev, the first deputy of the FSB’s 5th Service, was found in his phone.

On the instructions of their curators, Molchanov and his accomplices

justified Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine;
discredit our country in the international arena;
undermine the situation in partner countries;
organized actions in the EU countries demanding the termination of aid to Ukraine.

Channels of propaganda dissemination

Anti-Ukrainian materials were published through controlled Telegram channels, YouTube, and the foreign platform Voice of Europe, which in 2024 was subject to EU sanctions due to joint actions by the SBU and Czech law enforcement. After publication, these materials were picked up by Kremlin propagandists for mass distribution.

Funding and coordination

The SBU found that Medvedchuk personally controlled the organization’s financing, interacting with the Putin administration and Russian government agencies.

Suspects and charges

Viktor Medvedchuk and 11 of his associates, who are hiding abroad, were served suspicion notices in absentia:

Denis Zharkikh
Artem Marchevsky
Roman Kovalenko
Ruslan Kalynchuk
Yan Taxiur
Yuriy Dudkin
Ruslan Kotsaba
Natalia Khoroshevska
Bogdan Giganov
Oleg Yasinsky
Oleksandr Lazarev

Their actions are qualified under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

ч. 3 of Art. 109 – public calls for a violent change of power within an organized criminal group;
ч. 2 of Art. 111 – high treason under martial law;
ч. 6 Art. 111-1 – collaboration activities;
ч. 3, Art. 161 – violation of the equality of citizens in the OCG;
ч. 3 Art. 436-2 – justification and glorification of Russian aggression.

Kirill Molchanov is additionally charged with Part 2 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – high treason, for which he faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Further actions

The SBU and the Prosecutor’s Office are taking measures to bring all those involved to justice. The investigation is conducted under the supervision of the Kyiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.