On January 31, President Vladimir Zelensky fired the head of the department for national state protection of the Security Service of Ukraine, Roman Semenchenko.
There is a big scandal in Ukraine due to the SBU surveillance of journalists from the Bihus.info editorial office. The journalists themselves found evidence that they were being followed by representatives of the secret service. It was also recognized in the service itself. In the second year of an all-out war, the SBU has nothing better to do than spy on journalists?
Special operation against journalists
On January 16, a video leaked online showing employees of the Bihus.Info investigation project possibly using drugs. The Security Service of Ukraine said it was investigating the incidents of illegal wiretapping and video recording of representatives of the Bihus.Info project. Criminal proceedings were opened regarding this fact. But in the toga, the SBU officers themselves were listening and filming the journalists.
Investigative journalists from Bihus.Info identified those who installed hidden cameras in hotel rooms to spy on the editorial office. This is possible thanks to the video from the security cameras of the complex where the editorial office is located on December 27, 2023.
Journalists wrote that the department for national state protection of the SBU was responsible for the operation. Judging by the video, the operational and technical support department of the SBU was probably also involved in the installation of the equipment. The special service operation lasted 6 days.
First, SBU representatives, under the guise of ordering a corporate party for office employees, arrived at the complex twice during December 15-22, 2023, to inspect in detail the room where the Bihus.Info editorial team will move to.
The group exploring the establishment was led by a tall and thin man. In it, the editors identified Igor Borisovich Kravchenko, an employee of the SBU.
Then, on December 26, under the guise of their own corporate party, three dozen people, again led by the same Kravchenko, arrived at the complex. They brought large suitcases, which probably contained the equipment needed for the installation.
Among the people in the group, journalists also identified Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Konovalenko; in 2020, he filed a declaration as an employee of the SBU.
On December 27, in addition to Bihus.Info, several people, also associated with Igor Kravchenko, moved into the complex. As follows from the security cameras of the complex – for external surveillance of the editorial office.
After Bihus.Info left the complex, on the evening of December 28, another group of men entered most of the rooms where the editorial office was located. This group, which apparently came to retrieve the hidden equipment, also included at least one of those who previously attended the “corporate party” with Igor Kravchenko.
The editors believe that hidden cameras were illegally installed in the sauna and at least 8 rooms.
The SBU undertakes personnel conclusions
After the publication of the investigation by journalists, the Security Service of Ukraine said that the management made personnel decisions regarding the Department for National State Protection.
The SBU also states that some employees of Bihus.Info were found among the clients of drug dealers.
In particular, they report on an operator involved in criminal proceedings for the illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation, forwarding or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues.
On January 31, President Vladimir Zelensky fired the head of the department for national state protection of the Security Service of Ukraine, Roman Semenchenko. Semenchenko himself admitted in a conversation with journalists that his department was monitoring them.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.