Ukraine detains former security official on treason charges Official statement

Ukrainian law enforcers have officially confirmed the detention of Roman Dudin, who was the head of the SBU (Ukrainian State Security Service) department in the Kharkiv region until the end of May: he is charged with high treason and unauthorized leaving of the place of service.

This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the SBU, Ukrayinska Pravda reports.

“According to the investigation, on February 24, 2022, the head of the security department in the Kharkiv region, on his own initiative, began to act to the detriment of the defence capability and state security of Ukraine.

The suspect interfered with the functioning of the unified command and control system of the security and defence forces and did not carry out the functions and tasks assigned to the SBU in the field of protecting state sovereignty, the constitutional order and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

It was established that after February 24, 2022, at that time, the head of the regional department of special services deliberately prevented the regional authorities from organizing the defence. That is, he actually acted in the interests of the paramilitary units and special services of the Russian Federation,” the statement says.

It is also reported that Dudin, as an employee of the SBU, being under the command of the commander of the Kharkiv group of troops, left his place of service without permission and illegally stayed outside the Kharkiv region.

It is noted that the suspect stepped aside from carrying out the combat orders of the commander and performing tasks related to the organization of counterintelligence and counter sabotage activities of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, as well as the participation of this unit in defence of the city.

At the request of the media to comment on the above information, the press service of the SBU said that the special service "provides and will continue to provide maximum assistance for an objective and impartial investigation."