The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has declared a Kharkiv-based blogger, Serhiy Kuznetsov (known online as Lankarra), a suspect in absentia for justifying Russian military aggression and disseminating pro-Kremlin propaganda. According to Vladislav Abdula, the spokesperson for the SBU in the Kharkiv region, who shared the announcement on Facebook, the 38-year-old suspect fled Ukraine to Russia, where he actively uses his digital platform to support the occupying forces.
Investigation reveals that Kuznetsov systematically utilized his YouTube channel, which originally focused on motorcycle culture, to broadcast political messages aligned with Moscow’s hybrid war strategy. He has repeatedly called for changes to Ukraine’s state borders, denied the full-scale invasion, and characterized the ongoing defense of Ukrainian sovereignty as an “internal civil conflict.” The transition of a lifestyle blogger into a pro-Kremlin propagandist highlights a growing trend of Russia exploiting existing social media influencers to penetrate various audience segments.
Law enforcement officers conducted searches at properties associated with the suspect in Kharkiv. Authorities are currently processing the seizure of his remaining domestic assets, including a passenger car, two sports motorcycles, and a share of an apartment. The criminal proceedings have been initiated under Part 2 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers the justification, recognition of legitimacy, or denial of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as the glorification of its participants.
This case underscores the high stakes of information security in times of total war. Bloggers who collaborate with the aggressor state are no longer viewed merely as dissenting voices but as active participants in hybrid operations designed to destabilize Ukrainian society and justify atrocities. Despite residing in Russia, the suspect faces significant legal consequences, and the SBU continues to identify and freeze domestic assets of such collaborators, signaling that betraying one’s country in the digital space carries heavy tangible costs.