Charges Against Konstantin Kevorkyan
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has formally charged Konstantin Kevorkyan in absentia with collaboration and for justifying Russian aggression. Kevorkyan is a leading ideologue for Russian propaganda in the occupied Crimean peninsula and manages a network of media resources operating directly on orders from the Kremlin. Specifically, he heads the editorial team for the Telegram channels of the publication Ukraina.ru in the temporarily occupied city of Simferopol.
The publication Ukraina.ru was established in 2014 on Kremlin orders under the direction of sanctioned Russian propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov. Kevorkyan has been charged under Part 6 of Article 111-1 (collaborative activity) and Part 3 of Article 436-2 (justifying, recognizing as lawful, or denying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He faces a potential sentence of up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. This legal action is part of Ukraine's ongoing effort to hold individuals accountable for supporting Russia's war, even if they are outside government-controlled territory.
Russia's Ongoing Information Campaign
Kevorkyan is currently hiding in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, Russia continues a large-scale information campaign aimed at discrediting Ukrainian defenders. Hostile resources are spreading disinformation about Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers allegedly using banned substances. According to Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, enemy propaganda media have also begun circulating claims about a group of over 30 Ukrainian saboteurs near Kupiansk. Russian media have already published over 200 pieces aimed at discrediting security cooperation between Kyiv and Middle Eastern states. These tactics are standard elements of Moscow's hybrid warfare playbook, designed to undermine international support for Ukraine.
This case underscores the critical importance of countering Russian propaganda, which remains highly active in occupied territories. It also highlights the efforts of Ukrainian authorities to bring to justice those who support the aggression against Ukraine. Actions like this by the SBU represent a significant step in the fight against disinformation and collaborationism during the ongoing conflict.
As Ukraine intensifies its legal actions against collaborators like Konstantin Kevorkyan, the situation on the ground remains fraught with disinformation. Recently, reports have emerged of a Russian-led campaign aimed at undermining the credibility of Ukrainian forces by alleging drug use. This is part of a broader strategy to discredit Ukraine's military efforts, particularly near Kupiansk. For more details on this disinformation initiative, see our article on the recent disinformation tactics.