Mikhailo Tkach claims possible surveillance by security services in Vienna

Suspicion of a link to detentions in Austria

Journalist Mikhailo Tkach stated that his stay in Vienna was accompanied by surveillance by Ukrainian security services. According to him, a few days before his own detention, two individuals were detained in the city who were likely connected to Ukraine's military intelligence.

«Були якісь люди, яких затримали перед нами за кілька днів, які можуть бути повʼязані чи то з військовою розвідкою України… І чим далі, тим я більше починаю здобувати аргументи, що ці люди і їх перебування там - це могла бути комбінація, націлена проти нас…» (There were some people who were detained before us a few days ago, who may be connected to Ukraine's military intelligence... And the more I think about it, the more arguments I am gathering that these people and their presence there could have been a setup aimed at us...), Tkach said.

Accusations of authorities instigating the situation

According to the journalist, there are grounds to believe that the entire incident may have been organised at the initiative of the Ukrainian leadership. Tkach noted that surveillance of him and his colleagues has been ongoing abroad for approximately a year.

«Станом на зараз, у мене є всі підстави вважати, що вся ця історія могла бути інспірована українською владою… Вже десь близько року за нами стежать і закордоном. Тому що ми не працюємо по пересічних громадянах. Ми працюємо по людях, які навіть після втечі залишаються важливими активами для влади. І тому влада, як у випадку з Русланом Кравченком, не зацікавлена, щоб він був в Україні…» (As of now, I have all the grounds to believe that this whole story could have been instigated by the Ukrainian authorities... For about a year now, they have been surveilling us abroad. Because we do not work on ordinary citizens. We work on people who, even after fleeing, remain important assets for the authorities. And therefore, the authorities, as in the case of Ruslan Kravchenko, are not interested in him being in Ukraine...), he added.

Mention of possible disclosures by Kravchenko

Mikhailo Tkach also drew attention to the fact that Ruslan Kravchenko has things to say about the tasks assigned to him by high-ranking officials. The journalist named Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, and David Arakhamia, noting that it is these tasks that Kravchenko can describe.

«Очевидно, що Руслану Кравченку є що розповісти про задачі, які йому ставив Володимир Зеленський, Андрій Єрмак, Давид Арахамія і т.д.» (It is obvious that Ruslan Kravchenko has things to say about the tasks assigned to him by Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, David Arakhamia, etc.), Tkach concluded.