In Ukraine, state awards have been revoked and assets blocked for several individuals attempting to foster anti-government and pro-Russian sentiments. This has been reported by Kontrakty.UA.
For more details, read the article from TSN.ua.
High-profile Exposures
On Saturday, January 18, the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced suspicion of state treason against Vadym Novynskyi, a former MP from the pro-Russian party "Opposition Bloc".
The investigation revealed that since 2014, Vadym Novynskyi has promoted Russian narratives through interviews, public speeches, and posts on social media, attempting to create anti-government and pro-Russian sentiments in Ukraine, as well as justifying Russian aggression.
The pro-Russian deputy, following the directives of Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church (Gundyaev), maintained close communication with him for an extended period and was under his hierarchical authority. He effectively acted as a "curator" of the ROC in Ukraine and represented a religious organization of a foreign state.
Additionally, the NABU and SAP uncovered a major embezzlement scheme involving a former high-ranking official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Based on the case circumstances, this pertains to former State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Oleksiy Takhtai.
The official is suspected of fraud regarding the procurement of equipment and obtaining luxury vehicles worth over 6 million hryvnias.
Anti-corruption activists reminded that Takhtai previously served as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs under Arsen Avakov and was awarded the Order of Merit of the second class in 2017.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky commented on these high-profile revelations stating: "Everyone who stands against Ukraine, against the law in the country, should remember: there will be a response."
Sanctions Against Traitors and Propagandists
On Sunday, January 19, Zelensky signed a decree that grants force to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) regarding sanctions.
According to the decision, the following are blocked:
- propagandists working for Russia;
- individuals who have switched sides to the enemy;
- those who assist Russia in continuing the war.
Who is Under Sanctions
According to decree №38/2025, which implements the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine dated January 19, 2025, it concerns the introduction of personal economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against several individuals.
A total of 18 individuals have been sanctioned, including current and former members of the Ukrainian parliament, businessmen, as well as Russian entertainers and musicians.
In particular, these include:
- MP Yuriy Boyko;
- MP Nestor Shufrych;
- former leader of the CPU Petro Symonenko;
- propagandist from the pro-Russian resource "Strana.ua" Svetlana Kryukova;
- former MP from the "Party of Regions" Leonid Litvynov;
- former MP from the "Party of Regions" Leonid Baisarov;
- former deputy of the Donetsk regional council Yevhen Horokhov;
- accomplice of the "DNR" militants, who held the title of "Hero of Ukraine", Oleksandr Odnoralenko;
- oligarch from the Russian Federation Kostyantyn Hryhorishyn.
Former MPs accused of state treason include Yevheniy Murayev and Oleh Voloshyn; a national artist who sided with Russia Ruzhena Rublyova; a chess player who sided with Russia and became a member of the Federation Council of Russia from the occupied AR Crimea Sergiy Karyakin; choreographer Vadim Pisarev, Russian poet Illya Reznik, Russian opera singer Vasyl Gerello; Russian musician who supports Putin Yuriy Bashmet; rector of Moscow University Viktor Sadovnichiy.
Sanctions involve the revocation of state awards; a complete halt of trade, resource transit, flights, and transportation across Ukraine; suspension of economic and financial obligations; prevention of capital outflows beyond Ukraine, and asset blocking.
For the Russian oligarch Kostyantyn Hryhorishyn 16 prohibitions have been imposed.
For three individuals – Yuriy Boyko, Viktor Sadovnichiy, and Yuriy Bashmet – a single sanction was applied, namely, the indefinite revocation of state awards, while others received sanctions for 10 years.
What is Known About Propagandists
Currently, two Ukrainian politicians under sanctions are in Ukraine – Nestor Shufrych and Yuriy Boyko, reports BBC.
The publication noted that Shufrych has been imprisoned in Kyiv since September 15, 2023, after law enforcement informed him of his suspicion of state treason.
According to the investigation, the deputy carried out tasks for former NSDC Secretary Volodymyr Syvkovych, who fled to Russia in 2014 and began working for the occupiers. Under Syvkovych's direction, Shufrych systematically "publicly disseminated the narratives of the aggressor state, which conducts subversive activities against Ukraine" in his speeches and interviews. The MP does not acknowledge his guilt.
Yuriy Boyko was co-chair of the OPZZH faction in parliament but did not face criminal prosecution after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Later, he led a new parliamentary group "Platform for Life and Peace".
In December 2024, Boyko published a pro-Russian statement on social media regarding "radicals in Ukraine who rename cities," "prohibition of speaking the native language," and "violence against people."
Ukrainian and Russian businessman Kostyantyn Hryhorishyn owned significant assets in Ukraine. Specifically, as of 2019, through the group "Energy Standard," he owned: "Zaporizhtransformator," "Vinnytsiaoblenergo," and minority stakes in regional energy companies from Ternopil, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Sumy, which he owned in partnership with Kolomoyskyi, reports "Economic Truth."
In 2022, the state nationalized "Zaporizhtransformator." By 2024, he retained stakes in "Vinnytsiaoblenergo," "Chernihivoblenergo," "Ternopiloblenergo," "Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo," "Poltavaoblenergo," and "Sumyoblenergo."
The oligarch's wealth was estimated by "Forbes Ukraine" in 2021 at 275 million dollars. One of the most valuable assets of the businessman is a collection of paintings, which was valued at 300 million dollars by Lloyd’s ten years ago.
The publication "Strana.ua" has been under NSDC sanctions since 2021 for "anti-Ukrainian activities," as well as its chief editor Ihor Huzhva.
The sanctions imposed against 40-year-old journalist Svetlana Kryukova specifically mention the need to block these web resources, namely strana.ua, strana.news, strana.one, strana.digital, strana.today, ctrana.news, as well as the publication's pages on social media.
Commenting on Zelensky's decision, the journalist noted that she is "disappointed" with the imposed sanctions and stated that she will appeal them in court.
"Tomorrow, I will go to appeal the president's decree in the Supreme Court. One court more, one less.