The Security Service of Ukraine has detained well-known Ukrainian journalist and TV host Zhan Novoseltsev

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained well-known Ukrainian journalist and TV host Zhan Novoseltsev, who previously headed the “17th Channel.”

The SBU’s press service reports this.

The special service accuses him of allegedly organizing a “criminal group” consisting of seven people (experts, internet community admins, and video editing specialists) who created their own network of channels and pages on YouTube, Telegram, and Facebook with a total audience of more than 600,000 users.

“On these internet resources, the suspects conducted live streams and published messages with video reports instructing on methods of forcibly evading conscription. They also created a website where they leaked personal data of Ukrainian military personnel, primarily representatives of territorial recruitment centers and law enforcement officers,” the SBU claims.

Novoseltsev himself reported before his detention that he is being charged because of a phrase he said on air: “We need a motivated army, not an army of slaves.”

According to the journalist, he is being detained for three days.

It is worth noting that Novoseltsev’s Telegram channel indeed contains many news items about territorial recruitment centers. However, these reports are similar to those published about incidents involving military recruitment officers by other Ukrainian public platforms and media.