Torkotuk was in Vienna at the same time as Kravchenko and was interrogated by Austrians

Viktor Torkotuk, head of the "Artan" special unit of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, was in Vienna during the first days of former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko's stay there. As "Ukrainska Pravda" journalist Mykhailo Tkach claims, Torkotuk was interrogated by Austrian intelligence services as part of criminal proceedings regarding espionage, in which he and other GUR employees are named.

Circumstances of detention and the commander's explanation

"Ukrainska Pravda" published information about these events, citing materials from Austrian criminal proceedings provided by Tkach. According to the journalist, in early September, a Ukrainian under the protection of Austrian intelligence services stated that he had spotted Torkotuk in his hotel. "Ukrainska Pravda" suggests that this refers to Kravchenko.

Torkotuk was detained to clarify the circumstances. He explained that he had arrived in Vienna for tourism purposes and was accompanied by security, after which he was released.

Letter to intelligence services and error regarding the cameraman

On October 6, approximately two weeks after these events, Torkotuk sent a letter to Austrian intelligence services regarding the detention of two GUR employees. In the document, alongside the surnames of the intelligence officers, he mentioned "Ukrainska Pravda" cameraman Bondarenko. However, as Tkach notes, the publication's journalists were not yet in Vienna at that time.

Austrian law enforcement officers checked video surveillance footage and concluded that Bondarenko had rented a car together with a GUR employee. However, later, according to Tkach, the Austrian side determined that they had made a mistake: the UP cameraman merely resembled one of the intelligence officers externally. In fact, he was in the car with Tkach himself.

Detained intelligence officers and their equipment

As the journalist reports, the detained GUR employees had military IDs, hidden cameras, and trackers on them. They confirmed that they work in intelligence, but during interrogations stated that they were on vacation.

According to them, they arrived in Vienna on September 12 — two days before Kravchenko. Tkach also claims that one of the intelligence officers worked at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) about a year ago.

Based on the published materials, the journalist suggests that GUR employees were tailing a Ukrainian, who was likely Kravchenko. Later, near the building that, according to Tkach's version, the intelligence officers were observing, UP journalists were spotted. They were detained because Austrian intelligence services suspected possible cooperation between the media representatives and the GUR.

Connection to businessman Galanternyk

Tkach dedicated a separate part of the material to Odesa businessman Volodymyr Galanternyk, who is named in two NABU cases. According to the journalist, the published materials indicate that Galanternyk lives in the same house in Vienna where Kravchenko resides. It is this building, Tkach claims, that GUR employees and UP journalists were monitoring.

Citing his own sources, the journalist stated that Galanternyk could have been one of the non-public organisers of the attack on NABU last summer. Also, according to Tkach's version, the businessman could have provided testimony against the bureau during the preparation of SBU actions regarding NABU through the case of People's Deputy Khrystenko.

UP suggests that it was Galanternyk who could have helped Kravchenko settle next to him in Vienna. Tkach also expressed the version that testimony against the journalists could have been provided by people from the businessman's entourage. Specifically, this refers to the driver of a certain company who stated that he noticed surveillance of his car. According to the journalist, in fact, these were UP representatives who photographed the driver delivering Galanternyk. The building concierge also gave testimony.

Version of help from the Presidential Office

Tkach also voiced the version that the Office of the President of Ukraine could have helped Kravchenko leave the country and settle in Austria. According to the publication's sources, when crossing the border, Ukrainian border guards seized Kravchenko's passport and did not return the document for a long time and did not allow him to leave for Poland. The reason, according to UP sources, was a signal in the system related to NABU.

Later, according to this version, border guards received a phone call from Kyiv and allowed Kravchenko to leave for Vienna. Shortly after arriving in Austria, he, as it follows from Tkach's statements, received security protection.

Kravchenko's accusations and reaction of the parties

Kravchenko himself accuses GUR employees of preparing his kidnapping on the orders of NABU and the Presidential Office. He also suggests that Tkach may be connected to Ukrainian intelligence services.

NABU and Mykhailo Tkach deny these accusations.

The versions presented regarding possible surveillance, connections between the persons involved, and the role of the Presidential Office are based on the journalist's statements, his sources, and the case materials in his presentation. In themselves, they are not proof of the involvement of the mentioned persons in offences.