A Kyiv resident filmed the air defense system in action and sent the video outside Ukraine
In Kyiv, the SBU detained a man who filmed the operations of the Ukrainian air defense system and shared the recording with another person. According to investigators, the video revealed the locations of Ukrainian military personnel, and the footage could ultimately have been disseminated via Telegram. The man has been notified of the charges against him and faces up to eight years in prison.
In Kyiv, the Security Service of Ukraine detained a man who filmed Ukrainian air defense operations. He recorded the video through the windshield of his own car and then passed it on to another person. According to the investigation, the video revealed the locations of Ukrainian troops who were carrying out missions to protect the capital from air attacks. That is why law enforcement officials believe that the distribution of such a recording could have posed a threat to Ukrainian troops.
The SBU stated that the man passed the video file to a blogger subject to sanctions. According to the security service, this blogger previously worked for one of Viktor Medvedchuk’s television channels. He is currently outside the territory controlled by Ukraine.
Law enforcement officials also determined that the video contained information about the locations of Defense Forces units, which was not authorized for publication. An expert analysis confirmed that the disclosure of such information could have harmed national security.
What punishment does the man face?
The Kyiv resident was notified of his status as a suspect under Part 2 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article pertains to the unauthorized dissemination of information regarding the locations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. Specifically, this refers to information that could be used to pinpoint the military’s location on the ground.
Under martial law, such violations are punishable by imprisonment for up to eight years. At the same time, it is important to note that this is merely a suspicion. The final decision regarding the man’s guilt must be made by a court.
The SBU has urged people not to publish footage of air defense operations
The Security Service has once again urged Ukrainians not to film or share footage of Ukrainian air defense operations on social media or messaging apps. Law enforcement officials specifically warned against videos of air defense systems being launched or in operation, incoming flights, attacks by Russian troops, as well as strikes on military facilities and critical infrastructure.
The SBU explains that even videos without obvious coordinates can pose a danger. The footage may contain details of the terrain, buildings, roads, sounds, or other landmarks. Based on these, the enemy may attempt to determine the exact locations of Ukrainian military facilities or air defense systems. Therefore, law enforcement officials urge people not to publish such footage, even if the author believes it is impossible to identify the location from the video.
The SBU has already detained administrators of Telegram channels
This is not the first time Ukrainian law enforcement has reported detaining individuals for disseminating dangerous content on Telegram. Recently, the SBU, with the assistance of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, detained the founder and administrator of a Telegram channel in Kyiv. According to the security service, the channel distributed materials calling for terrorist acts.
The SBU emphasizes that during wartime, publishing information about Ukrainian military facilities can have consequences not only for the author of the video but also for the military personnel stationed at those locations. The SBU reported the detention.
In Zhytomyr, water utility operations were suspended due to a power outage.
A drone strike in the Kyiv region caused a fire in residential buildings; two people were rescued.
As a reminder, debris from a Russian drone caused a fire in a five-story building in Kyiv.
Following Russia’s nighttime attack on Kyiv, an educational institution was hit.
