Austrian court extends detention of Ukrainians suspected of spying for HUR

In Austria, two Ukrainians suspected of working for Ukrainian military intelligence have had their detention extended until November 20.

This is reported by ORF.

According to the Vienna prosecutor’s office, the suspects conducted covert surveillance of a certain “target” — apparently referring to former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. Witnesses claim that the same target was similarly surveilled by Ukrainska Pravda operator Yaroslav Bondarenko.

This, the publication notes, was the reason for the detention on October 9 of Bondarenko and journalist Mykhailo Tkach, who was in the car with him. Both journalists were subsequently released. However, according to ORF, Tkach and Bondarenko still have suspect status, and the investigation against them continues. Tkach has already returned to Ukraine.

As for the two alleged employees of Ukrainian intelligence, the court kept them in custody due to the risk of flight, obstruction of the investigation, and commission of new crimes. They are suspected of covert intelligence activities against Austria. They deny the charges.

Earlier, Kravchenko, who fled to Vienna, stated that the Ukrainians detained in Austria are active servicemen of the HUR from the “Artan” unit. According to him, they were sent to Austria to carry out “unlawful violent actions” against him.

Kravchenko claims that the heads of NABU and SAP requested that this group be sent, and that the orders came from the Office of the President. He also accused NABU of planning to take him to Ukraine with a bag over his head. The anti-corruption bodies deny these accusations.

We covered the details of the detention in Austria of the Ukrainians who were surveilling Kravchenko in a separate article.