The journalists were tracking former Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who fled to Europe amid a corruption probe after failing to return from a business trip. Ukrainska Pravda has called the detention unlawful and demanded an official explanation, while Ukraine's Foreign Ministry and embassy in Vienna have sought consular access. Although a consul has spoken with Tkach, he remains in custody and the whereabouts of Bondarenko are currently unknown.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Ukrainian Journalist First Details Spying Charges in Vienna Detention
Geopolitics11 days ago
Mykhailo Tkach has described being forcibly dragged from his car by seven armed masked men and spending 2 hours in solitary confinement after being detained in Vienna on Oct 8. Tkach, the head of investigations for Ukrainska Pravda, said Austrian police smashed his vehicle's windows, forced him and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko face down on the road, and pressured him to sign a document in German. He claims authorities accused him of spying for Ukrainian military intelligence, causing harm to Austria, and membership in a criminal organization.
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