The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Counterintelligence Department in Kyiv detained a former Ukrainian official who collaborated with Russia's FSB and Russian-backed terrorists in Luhansk Oblast, advocating for Ukraine's eastern territories to be annexed to Russia's Rostov Oblast.

The suspect was a former Ukrainian official who left civil service in 2014 and collaborated with the FSB

The suspect visited occupied Luhansk multiple times after the full-scale invasion and conducted activities against Ukraine's national interests

The suspect met with a head of the 5th Service of the FSB in Russia in September 2023

The suspect spread biased information on social media to incite national hatred and justify Russia's aggression

The suspect made posts calling for Ukraine's eastern regions to be annexed to Rostov Oblast

During the search, law enforcement found items with Russian symbols, a communist party membership card, medals, and Russian insignia

The suspect was remanded in custody without bail

A former Ukrainian official was detained in Kyiv on the charges of treason and inciting national hatred in collaboration with Russian intelligence services.

The defense believes that Valerii Zaluzhnyi's testimony could exonerate Roman Chervinskyi by proving the operation was authorized, a fact allegedly documented in letters between SSU and the Commander-in-Chief.