The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced the arrest of a former deputy head of the occupation administration in Alchevsk. The suspect had been hiding in Kyiv, attempting to conceal her history of collaboration with Russian forces to secure a job in a social service center.
According to the investigation, the individual was a member of the now-banned Party of Regions in 2014, when she led the local education department in Alchevsk. Following the city’s occupation, she accepted the position of “vice-mayor” under the Russian-installed administration. During her tenure, she actively enforced Kremlin policies, including the mandatory issuance of Russian passports to local residents and forcing teachers to adopt Russian educational standards.
The suspect fled the occupied region prior to the full-scale invasion in 2022 following a dispute with local occupation leaders. Once in Kyiv, she lived near her children and attempted to blend into society, hoping to bypass security checks for state employment. However, Ukrainian intelligence successfully tracked her down and prevented her from integrating into the local administrative structure.
The detainee is now facing charges under Part 1 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason). If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of assets. This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of Ukrainian security services to identify and neutralize collaborators who attempt to hide among the civilian population in government-controlled territories.
The state’s resolve to address security threats remains firm, ranging from internal counter-intelligence operations to broader strategic adjustments. As the country balances defense with administrative reforms, the prosecution of those who facilitated the initial occupation remains a top priority for maintaining national integrity.