Two Men in Poltava Region Receive Convictions for Espionage via Viber Groups.

Charges of Obstructing Ukrainian Armed Forces Operations

According to Novyny.live: A court in Ukraine's Poltava region has convicted two men for actions that hindered the operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. One defendant administered a Viber group where he shared information on military movements, while the other subscribed to a similar channel. This case highlights the legal risks of sharing sensitive information during wartime, even on private messaging platforms.

Case Details

Court documents reveal that one of the accused managed a Viber group with 2,738 subscribers. The other defendant joined a separate Viber chat in January 2024, which had 2,796 members. The administrator did not just oversee the community; he personally posted messages disclosing the locations and transport of law enforcement personnel, using coded language such as "regional military commissariat." He also disseminated information about the venues for mobilization events, specifically naming the Poltava Regional Territorial Recruitment Center and Social Support Center, thereby reducing their effectiveness.

The court initially sentenced each man to five years in prison, but this punishment was later commuted to a two-year probationary term. Their mobile phones, a Xiomi Redmi Note 12 Pro and a Xiomi Redmi Note 14, were confiscated. This outcome underscores the severe consequences for activities deemed to compromise military security.

This prosecution reflects the Ukrainian government's heightened focus on information security and protecting its armed forces from contemporary threats. In a time of war, controlling the information space is considered as critical as maintaining military readiness, as leaks can directly impact mobilization efforts and national safety. Judicial rulings in such cases are intended to serve as a deterrent, signaling that these actions will not go unpunished.