The SBU has urged Ukrainians not to post photos and videos of Russian attacks
The Security Service of Ukraine has urged citizens not to take or share photos and videos of Russian attacks. This applies, in particular, to footage of strikes on military facilities and critical infrastructure, as well as footage of Ukrainian air defense operations. The SBU warns that such footage could assist the Russian military in planning new strikes.
The Security Service of Ukraine has once again appealed to Ukrainians, asking them not to publish photos or videos showing the aftermath of Russian attacks. The SBU explains that it is not only videos of the strikes themselves that can be dangerous. It is also inadvisable to share footage of Ukrainian air defense operations or the locations of military facilities and critical infrastructure.
According to the service, such materials could fall into the hands of the Russian military. They could analyze the published footage to obtain additional information about the strike location and the air defense systems used by the Ukrainian side. “These recordings can be used not only by Russian propagandists but also by the Russian military, who track and analyze such materials to adjust their follow-up strikes,” the SBU noted.
Therefore, the agency urges people not to rush to post videos immediately after explosions or missile strikes. Even if the footage does not contain obvious military information, additional details may be of interest to the Russian side. Separately, the SBU reminded the public of the legal consequences of disseminating information that could aid the enemy.
The agency noted that publishing such content may, under certain circumstances, be considered a criminal offense. Specifically, this refers to Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article pertains, in particular, to the unauthorized dissemination of information regarding the movements of Ukrainian military personnel and other data that could assist a state carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine.
Depending on the circumstances and specific actions, punishment under this article may include up to 12 years of imprisonment. The SBU also reported that its operational units are monitoring instances of such material being shared online. The authors of such posts may be held accountable if their actions constitute a relevant offense.
Ukrainians have been urged to exercise responsibility when posting content during the war. The SBU emphasizes that following a Russian attack, it is best not to publish footage from the site of the strike, air defense operations, or facilities that may be of interest to the Russian military. The agency also urges people not to share unverified information about the consequences of attacks and to wait for official statements from the relevant authorities. This was reported by the SBU.
