Ukrainian Ministry of Culture Official Charged with Justifying Russian Aggression

A senior official from Ukraine's Ministry of Culture has been officially served with a notice of suspicion for allegedly justifying Russia's armed aggression and advocating for missile strikes against Ukrainian targets.

According to the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the suspect, who serves as the head of a department within the ministry, actively defended the Russian invasion in private conversations, framing the ongoing war as a legitimate action rather than an act of aggression.

Charges and Allegations

The Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office released a statement detailing the charges: "Under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, the head of one of the departments of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine was notified of suspicion of recognizing as lawful and denying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The actions of the suspect, who is an official, are qualified under Part 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine."

Investigators revealed that the official frequently claimed that Ukraine itself provoked the war and the subsequent Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure. Despite living in Kyiv and witnessing the daily devastation caused by the conflict, she allegedly speculated on the most effective targets for Russian missile strikes, expressing a desire for multiple impacts.

Incriminating Evidence

Forensic linguistic examinations have corroborated the unlawful nature of her statements. Furthermore, law enforcement officers conducted a search of the suspect's residence, uncovering highly incriminating documents.

• Letters addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other unknown recipients.
• The letters were written on behalf of the suspect's son, pleading for assistance to relocate to Russia.
• In the correspondence, the son stated he "does not want to live among Nazis" and envisioned his future in the Russian Federation.

In light of the gathered evidence, the prosecution is currently petitioning the court to place the suspect under arrest pending trial.