Journalists discovered that an SBU officer was collecting information about the director of The Kyiv Independent. The security service denies it

An officer of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) was gathering information about Daria Shevchenko, the executive director of The Kyiv Independent.

The journalist noticed on surveillance cameras that a man approached the door of her Kyiv apartment, photographed the entrance door and the shared hallway door. Neighbors said he was collecting information about her and showing her photo.

Reporters from Schemes (Radio Liberty) identified him as a 24-year-old SBU officer named Oleksandr.

The SBU confirmed that he is indeed their employee but claimed he came to that address on another matter unrelated to the journalist.

“SBU officers did not collect any information about the executive director of The Kyiv Independent, Daria Shevchenko. Currently, the SBU is investigating the illegal activities of one of the criminal groups in the capital. The presence of the operative at the specified address was due to checking the location of a suspect in another criminal case. These actions are in no way related to the activities of the Kyiv Independent editorial office or representatives of the media in general,” the SBU stated.

Sources in law enforcement said that the security service was interested in the former owner of the apartment in which the journalist now lives.

It is worth noting that not long ago The Kyiv Independent reported on a NABU criminal case against the drone manufacturer Fire Point, considered close to the president’s circle.