Ukraine's SBU Issues Draft Summons to Journalist Shulhat Following Vitiuk Wealth Probe.
According to Espreso.tv: An investigation by the Slidstvo.Info team revealed that the family of Illia Vitiuk holds real estate worth 25.5 million Ukrainian hryvnias. Journalist Yevgeniy Shulhat, who reported on these assets, subsequently encountered harassment from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which led to him receiving a military draft notice.
This case highlights the ongoing friction between investigative journalism and state security institutions in wartime Ukraine, where corruption inquiries can trigger official pushback.
On April 9, 2024, in connection with the probe, Vitiuk was suspended from his duties and sent to the front line. Concurrently, the SBU, the Ministry of Defense, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are reviewing information about Vitiuk’s wealth. The SBU press service stated that
“under the law, SBU employees do not have the authority to give official instructions,”referencing internal procedural limitations.
Government Response and Corruption Concerns
On May 1, 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the head of the SBU’s cyber intelligence branch, a move that signals the gravity of the situation. Yaroslav Volvach commented that
“the detention was targeted,”emphasizing possible vested interests in the inquiry and its outcomes. The atmosphere remains fraught, and future steps in the investigation may shape events to come. These developments have sparked debate about the protections afforded to journalists who probe high-level corruption during the ongoing war.
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