Journalist Olha Khudetska reported threats against her after publishing an article about the non-transparent use of funds by the volunteer medical battalion "Hospitallers."
It was reported by the Institute of Mass Information.
According to Khudetska, the screenshots of the messages contain direct threats, including "breaking her legs." The journalist noted that she does not plan to go to the police.
"I don't see any point in it. I don't know any successful cases of investigating online threats," the journalist said.
Khudetska does not rule out the possibility that people who want to protect the battalion commander, MP Yana Zinkevych, may be behind the threats. At the same time, she said, it could also be russian figures trying to intensify internal conflicts in Ukraine.
After the journalist's statement, Yana Zinkevych wrote on her Facebook page that she did not support such methods of protection.
"But this did not lower the temperature. It's just that instead of 'break legs' they write 'burn in hell', 'if I meet you, get ready to feel it'," Khudetska added.
What Yana Zinkevych says about the scandal around Hospitallers?
In an interview with NV, Yana Zinkevych explained that Hospitallers is open to scrutiny and prepares transparent financial statements.
"And now let's move on to the fundraising. There is an important fundraising campaign that we are currently conducting. Indeed, we have many cans of the fund, I set many goals for myself, and I pay for all this from the operational amount on the card, or if I still have some cash, I close it like that," Zinkevych explained.
She says that fundraising is conducted through several bank accounts and funds to provide the unit with ammunition and equipment, and some of the expenses cannot be publicized for security reasons.
"Regarding the fundraising for ammunition. Yes, indeed, you are right, we have two banks. By the way, I sent Ms. Olha all the correspondence with our head of the foundation a few days before the events, when we were discussing this bank. We decided that we would open banks for the same amount, and each time one of us made a replenishment for ammunition for half a million, i.e. 500 thousand, it means that both I and they would reduce the bank. Because it may be that the fund will not raise anything, it may be that I will not raise anything. And we just have to do what we can to maximize [the funds]. Every time five hundred thousand is paid, we both change the amount of the fundraising and reduce it," Zinkevych says.
She confirmed that she and the foundation are preparing reports for 2025 and plan to make them public. She also emphasized that she does not support threats to journalists and strives to make financial information as accessible and understandable as possible.
What is known about the scandal around Hospitallers?
Journalist Olha Khudetska drew attention to the non-transparent reporting of the Hospitallers battalion for the funds raised. She said that the activity is supported by a network of 14 companies registered to relatives of one person, and two more related companies are located in the UK. Khudetska called for the full financial statements of the battalion to be shown.
The commander of the Hospitallers, Yana Zinkevych, replied that they are open to inspection and ready to demonstrate the work of the Kyiv base and warehouses, and also announced the preparation of a consolidated financial report.
Who are the Hospitallers?
"Hospitallers" is a Ukrainian volunteer medical battalion founded by Yana Zinkevytch in 2014. It provides first aid and evacuates the wounded from the hottest spots of the frontline, working together with the Armed Forces and volunteers. The battalion conducts medical and tactical training for military and civilians, supports frontline hospitals, and trains paramedics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Who is Olha Khudetska?
Olha Khudetska is a Ukrainian journalist, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Watchers (2020 - February 2025). Last year, she drew attention to inconsistencies in the reporting of Nazarii Husakov, a Lviv activist who is battling a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). He regularly collected money for treatment, but did not provide reports. Volunteers and media persons reported unreasonably large amounts of fees and the circulation of millions of dollars in a crypto wallet, while some of the expensive medicines were provided to him free of charge by the city and the manufacturer.
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