Criminal Case Opened Against Viktor V.
Authorities in Kyiv have initiated criminal proceedings under Article 182, Part 1 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (violation of privacy) against a man identified as Viktor V., who allegedly engaged in a long-term pattern of stalking women in the Solomianskyi and Darnytskyi districts. According to law enforcement, the victims have formed a support group on the social media platform Threads, which now includes more than 40 members.
The Solomianskyi Police Department is conducting the pre-trial investigation and working to identify all affected individuals. Over several years, Viktor V. is accused of following women, aggressively approaching them in public, demanding their phone numbers, and secretly recording conversations using a hidden body camera. He also obtained personal details such as home and work addresses. The harassment reportedly intensified on the victims' birthdays, when he would bombard them with hundreds of calls, attempt to hack their social media accounts, order pizza or sex shop deliveries, and send birthday greetings recorded on his body camera.
Legal Reforms and Implications
The suspect operates under the username 'Yedro Atoma Helia' in messaging apps. Viktor V. has denied the allegations, calling them 'unreliable.' If convicted, he faces a fine, corrective labor, or up to three years of restricted freedom. In December 2024, a draft law (No. 12297) was registered in the Verkhovna Rada to establish criminal liability for stalking, and it has been marked as part of Ukraine's European integration efforts. Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention in 2022, a significant step in combating violence against women.
- The proposed legislation would punish stalking with fines ranging from 34,000 to 68,000 Ukrainian hryvnias.
- Community service of 150 to 240 hours.
- Restriction of freedom for up to two years, or up to four years under aggravating circumstances.
In February 2026, the bill was placed on the parliamentary agenda, but the Law Enforcement Committee has yet to review it.
This case highlights the urgent need for stronger legal protections against stalking and violence toward women in Ukraine. The emergence of a victim-led online group shows that women are increasingly banding together to confront such crimes, which could be a pivotal development in combating gender-based violence. Adopting the anti-stalking bill would significantly improve human rights protections and ensure better safeguards for victims.