Ukrainians on the side of the Kremlin? Ukrainian authorities track their citizens whom they suspect of collaborating with Russia. Among them, officials caught red-handed in a line of treason against their country. Ukrainian justice has already opened more than 10,000 collaborative investigations.
“Identified and traced”
During a video conference meeting, the Russians, some of whom are representatives of the Ministry of Health, take stock with their Ukrainian counterparts of the Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia.
In the midst of this exchange, a new participant, probably a member of the Ukrainian intelligence service, bursts in and speaks. “The Ukrainian security service has identified and tracked them all. Tomorrow they will all be on the international wanted list,” says a male voice.
“You will all be responsible under article 111 of the Penal Code for treason against the State,” he threatens.
The meeting participants understand that they are hacked by Kyiv and several of them, Ukrainians, suddenly disconnect from the video conference or turn off their cameras.
A hunt often conducted online
Online stalking of this kind is a common practice for Ukrainian services. It allows them to obtain evidence of rapid collaboration with Russia that is then transmitted to the Ukrainian judicial system.
“The goal is that these employees never feel safe, be it in their daily lives or on the Internet,” Ihor Solovei, head of the center for strategic communication and IT security, told BFMTV.
“They are public figures, so with this type of operation it is easy to obtain personal information, their address or their number,” he says.
Up to 12 years in prison
Every day Ukrainian press reports condemned the pro-Russians. These contributions can range from the man who agreed under duress to say “Long live Putin” in a bar to denouncing Ukrainian resistance fighters in Kherson during the Russian occupation.
According to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the General Prosecutor of Ukraine has opened 17,000 investigations for collaboration since the beginning of the conflict. For those convicted of collaboration, the maximum sentence is 12 years in prison.
Source: BFM TV
