The Security Service of Ukraine reports detentions tied to mobilization alternatives
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced that two individuals who posted videos on social networks encouraging resistance among military registration and enlistment office personnel were taken into custody. The agency described these actions as part of a broader effort to impede mobilization and to extract sensitive information about the Ukrainian armed forces.
According to SBU statements, a coordinated group carried out activities across several regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Transcarpathian oblasts, with the aim of disrupting conscription processes and leaking military data. The authorities indicated that the group sought to destabilize the country’s defense readiness by influencing both service personnel and the general public.
Several outlets have noted potential organizers behind the operation. Strana.ua identified a former television presenter and blogger named Zhan Novoseltsev as one of the organizers involved in steering the information and subversive activities, collaborating with a network described by the SBU as seven accomplices. The agency emphasized that the collective effort targeted the integrity of military information systems and the reliability of recruitment data.
In related developments, Kyiv authorities have intensified checks at regional recruitment centers, where personnel are responsible for updating military registration data. Reports indicate that individuals who fail to refresh their records have faced penalties. Officials from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense clarified that those liable for military service would be subject to fines if their registration information is not current at regional centers. The penalty range reported by ministry sources falls within a scale designed to ensure timely updates, with fines calculated in hryvnias and translated into approximate US dollar equivalents for context. The enforcement at TCC offices underscores the government’s priority on accurate manpower accounting during ongoing security operations.
These actions align with previous Ukrainian policy discussions about the role of internet-driven outreach in recruitment and mobilization. Local authorities and defense officials have continued to monitor online activity closely, aiming to prevent misinformation and to safeguard the chain of command during critical periods.
The broader situation highlights the convergence of digital influence operations and traditional defense administration. By identifying individuals who spread calls against mobilization or that reveal sensitive military information, Ukrainian authorities signal a commitment to maintaining military readiness while safeguarding civilian workers involved in the recruitment process. Analysts note that the use of social media to affect public perception and to circulate disinformation remains a central challenge for national security agencies across the region. (Source attribution: Strana.ua reported on the involvement of Zhan Novoseltsev as one of the organizers.)
Observers in Ukraine emphasize that the country continues to stress the importance of accurate military records and transparent procedures at recruitment centers. The enforcement of penalties for outdated records is intended to deter lax data maintenance, which could otherwise undermine a mobilization effort or complicate planning for force composition. The evolving dynamic between information operations and government administration is a key area for ongoing monitoring by security researchers and policymakers alike.