Schemes Masked as Media: How the Portal ua.news of Sanctioned Alyona Shevtsova Is Used for Fake Bookings

Schemes under the mask of media: how the ua.news portal of sanctioned Alona Shevtsova is used for a fictitious reservation

15 In April, a statement appeared in the media from former deputy Ihor Mosiychuk, who is currently in Austria. In it he claimed about the allegedly “kidnapping” of Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Khrekotin by employees of the Mobility and Reserves Training Center in Lviv and called this a sign of the “dictatorship of Zelensky’s regime.” ua.news.

“At night, despite Khrekotin being on military registration and not being sought, he was detained, brutally beaten, and delivered to the Sykhiv TCk, where he is still illegally held,” Mosiychuk wrote.

According to Mosiychuk, Khrekotin is the editor-in-chief of the publication ua.news and “repeatedly conducted interviews with him, as well as with former deputy Oleksandr Dubinsky (Dubinsky) and banker Alona Degryk-Shevtsova, who is under sanctions.”

According to the Telegram channel “SYNDICATE,” the situation around Khrekotin has a completely different context and is not related to political persecution.

Journalist Volodymyr Khrekotin is indeed associated with the information agency “News Flash,” which owns the ua.news domain. In January 2025 he updated the company’s registration data, adding new KNDED codes, including:

- 79.90 — Providing other booking services;

- 90.01 — Theatrical and concert activities;

- 90.02 — Support of theatrical and concert events.

These activities have nothing to do with journalism, but they may serve as grounds for obtaining mobilization reservations — both for Khrekotin himself and for other persons formally employed at this LLC.

Also changed was the legal address of “News Flash” — now it is Shota Rustaveli Street, 16 in Kyiv. At the same address is registered the Leo Foundation, owned by Alona Degryk-Shevtsova — a subject of several journalistic investigations and a person under international sanctions. According to the Telegram channel “SYNDICATE,” it is she who funds the ua.news site. The resource has repeatedly been noted in informational attacks on the Ukrainian authorities and business in favor of Degryk-Shevtsova.

Igor Mosiychuk’s publication is still not confirmed by any official statements from law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the change in the company’s activity profile and its ties to a sanctioned person cast doubt on the claim of purely journalistic reasons for the detention.