The Security Service of Ukraine has reported suspicion in absentia to 43-year-old native of Sambir Oblast, Volodymyr Panchak-Sheremety, who, while abroad, is actively spreading pro-Russian narratives via YouTube and social networks. The suspect positions himself as a “political expert in the Ukrainian media space.”.
According to the investigation, since 2022 he has been spreading Kremlin propaganda theses, discrediting the Ukrainian authorities, and justifying Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. In particular, the suspect gave an interview to a Belarusian channel, where he glorified the Soviet Union, condemned the Maidan, and called for the unification of Ukrainians, Belarusians, Moldovans, Georgians, and Armenians into a "common civilization.".
In his video blogs, Panchak-Sheremeta claimed that the war was “agreed upon” and planned by the authorities, and argued that “Ukrainian women and children are being deported, and Cossacks are being disposed of on an industrial scale.” He justified Russia’s actions and assured that “everything will be fine in coexistence with the Russians.”.
According to the prosecutor's office, the blogger has repeatedly conducted joint broadcasts with the famous Lviv provocateur Ostap Stakhiv. SBU investigators have charged him in absentia with two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - high treason and justification of Russian aggression (Part 2 of Article 111; Part 2 of Article 436-2).
Since the suspect is outside Ukraine, law enforcement is conducting a complex of measures to bring him to justice. According to the law, he faces up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.
