Bihus.Info journalists claim they were wiretapped by the Security Service of Ukraine

Kyiv, Ukraine (Svidomi)— Journalists from the investigative media outlet Bihus.Info claim that the Security Service of Ukraine wiretapped them during a corporate event. In January, a video of the editorial staff taking drugs was shared online.

The surveillance video of the journalists was shared on a website with an editorial team that was probably generated by artificial intelligence. Phone tapping records indicated that the Bihus.Info staff had been under surveillance for at least several months.

The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating the case, but Bihus.Info conducted its own investigation, which included examining CCTV footage from the resort where they were being wiretapped, talking to the resort staff and re-examining the rooms.

The editors claim that the SSU National Statehood Protection Department wiretapped them.

The resort's CCTV cameras showed that this department's employees booked the same hotel rooms as the journalists before and after their corporate event.

Even before Bihus.Info's investigation was published, the head of the department, Roman Semenchenko, was fired from the SSU on January 31. In a telephone conversation with Bihus.Info, he neither denied nor confirmed the SSU’s involvement in the operation.

The Security Service has not officially reported on the results of the investigation.