Muraiev’s statements from China, Boyko’s TikTok: what are the former OPFL MPs preparing for?

20 January 21:00
ANALYSIS FROM Komersant ukrainskyi

Fugitive propagandists have become more active with new statements aimed at undermining the unity of Ukrainian society. One of them is Yevhen Muraiev, a pro-Russian politician suspected of treason. His appearance in the information space coincided with the government’s decisive actions to impose sanctions on people who collaborate with the enemy and help Russia wage war against Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose restrictions on 18 people. The list also includes such prominent pro-Russian figures as Nestor Shufrych, Petro Symonenko, Oleh Voloshyn, and others who worked to spread Kremlin propaganda.

What is known about the traitors today and why some are starting to push Russian propaganda into the information space – Komersant ukrainskyi has been looking into it.

It has become known that the suspect of high treason, Yevgeny Muraev, is in Beijing with his family. He announced this in a conversation with pro-Russian “political scientist” Alexander Lazarev, also a suspect in high treason. Their meeting, according to the participants, took place for the first time in three years.

Muraev voiced propaganda slogans from China

Muraiev began the interview by criticizing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that he “does not intend to end the war.” The politician also made no secret of his plans to “look for missing accomplices after the fall of the Zelenskyy regime.”

Muraiev has repeatedly justified Russian aggression, calling the war “bad relations between the countries” and emphasizing that Ukrainians and Russians are “not strangers.” He added to his messages by manipulating the “historical unity with Russia” and accusing Ukraine of “not complying with the Minsk agreements.”

During the two-hour interview, Muraiev repeatedly made statements that could be qualified as anti-Ukrainian. In particular, he made derogatory remarks about the residents of the western part of Ukraine, calling them “Austrian servants,” and even called on the Ukrainian military to turn their weapons against the government.

Oleh Voloshyn turned up in Belarus: new details about the life of the fugitives

Former MP of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleh Voloshyn, who represented the pro-Russian party OPFL, was spotted in Belarus with his family. The photos, taken in a building that resembles a castle, were posted on Instagram by his wife, Nadezhda Sass.

Nadezhda Sass used to work as a TV presenter on Viktor Medvedchuk’s pro-Russian channels 112 Ukraine, ZIK, and NewsOne. Now the couple has apparently settled in Belarus, which is Russia’s ally in the war against Ukraine.

The photo caused a wave of discussion on social media. In particular, blogger Harley Quinn sarcastically commented on Voloshin’s lifestyle in exile:

“They fled to Lukashenko in some kind of ‘castle’. They continue to play aristocrats from the Belarusian Bridgertons. Voloshyn, however, is pale for some reason, just like his wife’s tights.” – Harley Quinn Telegram

Oleh Voloshyn is a former MP from the OPFL, which was banned in Ukraine for anti-Ukrainian activities and cooperation with the Kremlin. Voloshyn is known for his pro-Russian statements and participation in promoting Kremlin narratives.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many representatives of the pro-Russian camp, including Voloshin, disappeared from public space, but recent events show that they continue to live abroad.

No longer a Hero of Ukraine: Yuriy Boyko with new statements

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stripped Yuriy Boyko, a member of parliament from Donetsk Oblast, of the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Recently, Boyko was in the spotlight after he posted a video on TikTok in which he criticized the process of decommunization, renaming of cities, and “the ban on speaking his native language.” The politician expressed these theses in Russian, which caused a wide resonance.

After being summoned to the Security Service of Ukraine, Boyko recorded a new video in which he apologized and called Russian President Putin a war criminal. In a commentary for BBC News Ukraine, he explained that his statements were a “call for unity” and that accusations of pro-Russian rhetoric were “nonsense.”

Despite the apology, the Verkhovna Rada recalled Yuriy Boyko from the Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories. The vote took place on the second attempt.

He kindly met the occupiers in his estate: where is the Communist of Ukraine Petro Symonenko now?

Today, Petro Symonenko remains a traitor to Ukraine, although his whereabouts are not officially disclosed. His actions during Russia’s invasion, including his cooperation with the occupiers, were yet another indication of the anti-Ukrainian position he has consistently defended in his political career.

In 2022, when Russian troops were advancing through the Kyiv region, Symonenko, according to media reports, personally received the occupiers at his estate near Kyiv. Moreover, Russian special forces were reportedly stationed in his house, and Symonenko himself appealed to the Kremlin to evacuate him and his family.

Symonenko was first elected to the Ukrainian parliament in 1994 as a member of the Communist Party and served as a member of parliament in all subsequent convocations until 2014. After the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of the war in Donbas in 2014, the Ukrainian authorities initiated the process of banning the Communist Party of Ukraine. This process lasted for several years and ended only in the spring of 2022, when the court finally banned the Communist Party of Ukraine from operating in Ukraine.

Revanchism in action: what are the traitors preparing for?

Valeriy Klochok, head of the Center for Public Analysis “Vezha”, believes that the activity of pro-Russian politicians, in particular Yevhen Muraiev, indicates their attempts to return to Ukrainian politics. According to Klochok, this activity has been going on for a long time, and social media, in particular TikTok, plays a significant role in this.

“The campaign was very systematic. Slices of Muraev’s interviews flooded TikTok even before the full-scale invasion began. This platform has tremendous potential. For example, the elections in Romania demonstrated how unexpected political victories can be achieved through TikTok, YouTube and Facebook,” said Klochok.

According to Klochok, Muraiev’s appearance in the public space is not accidental. It indicates his intention to return to Ukrainian politics. To prevent this, the expert recommends taking decisive measures, such as imposing sanctions, banning him from entering Ukraine, or even depriving him of citizenship.

“If Muraiev speaks about Ukrainian politics, it means that he is seeking political revenge. In such circumstances, sanctions against him are absolutely the right decision. However, it is important that these sanctions are not lifted in the future, as is often the case,” emphasized Klochok.

Klochok also drew attention to the intensification of the work of the Security Service of Ukraine, in particular, regarding suspicions of pro-Russian public figures and bloggers. However, according to the expert, the problem remains serious, because even in the Verkhovna Rada there are representatives of pro-Russian forces, and pro-Russian rhetoric continues to be heard on some YouTube channels.

“The decision of the National Security and Defense Council is correct and necessary. But it is a pity that it was adopted only in the third year of the war. The authorities should have acted more decisively earlier. Pro-Russian politicians and churches, such as the UOC, pose a threat because they have support among some Ukrainians who are dissatisfied with the current situation in the country,” noted Valeriy Klochok.

Klochok, head of the Center for Public Analysis “Vezha”, expressed concern that such forces could get back into the parliament, disguising their intentions as pro-Ukrainian rhetoric. According to him, this could become a reality if the government does not demonstrate more effective governance, particularly during the war period.

Why is it dangerous?

The rise of figures like Muraiev is part of a broader information war aimed at undermining Ukraine’s unity and discrediting the government. Their statements are intended to undermine public confidence in the country’s leadership, provoke internal conflicts, and divert attention from Russia’s war crimes.

Why have pro-Russian figures become more active now?

  • Preparation for possible political changes. Ukraine is entering a period when discussions about elections are becoming more relevant, and hostile forces may use this to increase their influence.
  • Attempts to undermine the unity of society. The rhetoric spread by such individuals is aimed at creating a split in society, discrediting the government and international support for Ukraine.
  • Diverting attention from Russia’s war crimes. Pro-Russian propagandists are trying to shift the focus in the information field by imposing narratives about “bad relations” instead of recognizing Russian aggression.

Unity, prudence and readiness to fight are the best answers to these challenges. Ukraine has proved that it is able to withstand not only military aggression but also information attacks, and no amount of propaganda manipulation will stop it on its way to victory.




Anastasiia Fedor
Автор