SSU opens case over publication of alleged quote by Budanov from closed session in Rada - media

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has opened criminal proceedings over publication in the media of alleged statements by the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to sources in the SSU.

The agency's interlocutor said that the case was opened due to the disclosure of information constituting a state secret by persons to whom this information was entrusted during a secret session in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The investigation is being conducted under Part 2 of Article 328 (disclosure of state secrets) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

No other details about the investigation are provided.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on January 27, the Ukrainian publication Ukrainian Pravda published an article entitled "Trump, war, elections. What will determine the new political season in Ukraine".

In this material, the publication wrote, citing unnamed sources, that a closed meeting with the leadership of the Defense Forces of Ukraine was recently held in parliament.

According to the publication's interlocutor, during the meeting Budanov allegedly said that the existence of Ukraine would be under threat if serious negotiations did not begin by the summer.

Later, the Defense Ministry's Defense Intelligence stated that Budanov's alleged quote, which was cited by Ukrainian Pravda, does not correspond to reality.