The Instagram page of Dnipro-based journalist Maria Tkachova was suspended following mass strikes by followers of the underage blogger Timofiy “Kucher” Poteriaylo. The blogger encouraged his subscribers to flag the journalist’s account after she posted a video about his activities, Maria Tkachova reported to Kateryna Lysiuk, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
In her video, Maria Tkachova discussed Timofiy Poteriaylo, aged 16, who posts about the routes of Russian drones and missiles over Dnipro and the oblast on Telegram and posts videos from the strike sites within minutes after the shelling.
“In my video, I raised the issue of his activities, since he is a minor, pointing out that he drives a car without a license. I talked about him fundraising for a car for himself. About him posting videos filmed in cars such as BMW or Audi shortly after that. Timofiy Kucher has also been recorded asking his followers to ‘throw some gas money his way’ so that he can update people on where Russian drones or missiles are flying as quickly as possible,” Maria Tkachova said.
The journalist also brought up the issue of the underage blogger visiting Russian shelling sites in curfew hours.
“Where does he learn about these locations, why does he make them public by filming content under address signs? We, as journalists, are not allowed to go live from shelling sites, while the underage blogger does this regularly. I encourage people to read official sources such as the Ukrainian Air Forces during the air raids and to go down to bomb shelters immediately, while Kucher posts in real time about which building a Shahed is passing, without even thinking that they are controlled via the Internet. That is, the drone can monitor what exactly it is passing and where exactly it is flying at the moment,” the journalist said.
Tkachova also expressed concern in the video that the blogger posted a video of himself administering first aid to air strike victims while having no appropriate training.
“Tactical medicine instructors have said that he is completely illiterate about providing first aid. Who will be responsible if instead of helping he harms a person, he is underage. Who will be liable for this?” adds the journalist.
Maria Tkachova filed an appeal against the page suspension. While the appeal is being reviewed, the journalist created a new profile on Instagram.
