10 state traitors of the year whom Ukrainians searched for most often in the Register of Scoundrels

10 state traitors of the year whom Ukrainians searched for most often in the Register of Scoundrels

Of the more than 1000 people included in the Register of State Traitors of the CHESNO Movement, Ukrainians searched most often for information about five current MPs, the fugitive ex-president Viktor Yanukovych, a community head, a former local council deputy, a political expert, and a pro-Russian activist.

Notably, for two of the traitors in the TOP-10 there is already information that they have been liquidated. And one of them holds first place in the ranking. That is Kyrylo Stremousov.

After the occupation of Kherson region, he was appointed deputy head of the fake military-civilian administration. With the rise of the partisan movement, leaflets with threats to the collaborator began to appear, and on the eve of Kherson’s de-occupation sensational news broke about Stremousov’s death in a car accident. That is why his name is at the top, because already in the summer he occupied the 5 place. Stremousov was well known for his pro-Russian views before the full-scale invasion. Back in 2020 year the SBU conducted searches at his place as part of a criminal proceeding into uncovering an FSB agent network.

In second place is former Odesa City Council deputy Dmytro Spivak, known for spreading pro-Russian propaganda and fakes about "American biolabs" and deliberately drawing Russia into the war. During his political career he was a member of several parties: from Natalia Korolevska’s "Ukraine — Forward!" and the BPP to "Fatherland" and "Servant of the People." At the end of the year Spivak reported on his Facebook page that he had been given a letter of thanks from GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov.

"The CHESNO Movement maintains the Register of State Traitors precisely so that even when the authorities and the judicial system whitewash certain people and they later try to run for office with these certificates and letters of thanks, we can remind everyone who is who," emphasizes CHESNO Movement leader Vita Dumanska.

In third place by Ukrainian searches is pro-Russian expert and political scientist Mykhailo Chaplyha. Chaplyha was a frequent guest on Medvedchuk’s channels and spread Russian propaganda. In particular, he justified the annexation of Crimea, manipulated issues of the Russian language, spread fakes about NATO and the U.S., and called the Revolution of Dignity a "seizure of power." After the full-scale invasion began, Chaplyha somewhat softened his pro-Russian rhetoric, claimed he welcomed the successes of the Ukrainian army, but in June of 2022 year on Natalia Moseichuk’s talk show he accused the military of deepening the economic crisis.

In fourth place is MP Andrii Derkach. In the summer of 2022 year the SBU uncovered a GRU agent network that included Derkach. According to the investigation, he oversaw the creation of a number of private security firms in various regions to use these structures for the rapid seizure of Ukraine. And at the end of the year the federal court in Brooklyn officially published charges against Derkach for money laundering and violating sanctions. According to U.S. information, the MP had been an active Russian agent for more than ten years.

Closing out the top five in the search ranking is the liquidated traitor-MP Oleksii Kovalov. After the occupation of Kherson region he remained in the city and later admitted he cooperated with the occupiers. In the spring of 2022 year Kovalov was expelled from the Servant of the People party amid suspicion of state treason. In the occupation government of Kherson region Kovalov held the position of deputy head. The surge in searches is connected to the fact that in August Kovalov was found shot dead; earlier he had reported surviving an assassination attempt and that his car had been blown up.

In sixth position by profile views is former MP of this convocation Illia Kyva. In the night of 24 February 2022 year Kyva, whom Russian propagandists use, declared from abroad that "the Ukrainian people need liberation," and that "Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians are one people." In March of 2022 year 335 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada voted to deprive Kyva of his parliamentary mandate, since he had submitted a statement of resignation. The Lviv court banned the Socialist Party of Ukraine, which is associated with Kyva’s activities. In the fall the SBU detained in Kyiv a criminal group headed by Kyva.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, ex-president Viktor Yanukovych has begun to appear in the media space. According to GUR, Russia planned to use him to legitimize processes as a member of a temporary government. Yanukovych draws attention by periodically addressing Zelensky or Ukrainians with advice to capitulate. He ranked seventh in search queries.

In eighth place is former MP, head of the banned party "Ours," and owner of the blocked pro-Russian TV channel "NASH," Yevheniy Murayev. Murayev’s party and channel systematically spread pro-Russian narratives and Kremlin fakes. After the full-scale invasion, Murayev stated that Ukraine would have to capitulate and reminded that he had long proposed giving water to Crimea and peacefully withdrawing from the unrecognized self-proclaimed republics in Donetsk and Luhansk.

One of the most notorious traitors is another current MP, Nestor Shufrych. Shufrych was part of the influence group of state traitor Viktor Medvedchuk. He denied Russian aggression in Donbas and called the war in Ukraine a "civil" war. In November of 2022 year Shufrych joined the NOC of Ukraine, but later left the committee under public pressure. At the end of the year the CHESNO Movement initiated an appeal to parliament to remove Shufrych from the position of chair of the Committee on Freedom of Speech and to develop a unified policy on stripping the mandates of deputies from pro-Russian parties at all levels. For its part, MPs are collecting signatures to consider legislative initiatives that could allow depriving Shufrych and other OPZZh representatives of their mandates. Our organization is monitoring who among MPs signed and who refused.

Rounding out the TOP-10 ranking is the head of Buryntsi community (Sumy region) Viktor Ladukha. In the spring of 2022 year he was notified of suspicion of collaborating with the occupiers. According to the investigation, Ladukha conducted information activities aimed at supporting the actions of the aggressor state. He also provided housing, fuel, and food to its armed formations. Ladukha denied the charges, and some media suggested he became a victim of a political setup.

Kateryna Bereziuk, published in the CHESNO Movement outlet