Texty journalist Lyubov Velychko was targeted in a smear campaign while investigating a network of social media accounts and bloggers opposing the mobilisation effort and discrediting the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Velychko reported to Institute of Mass Information (IMI) journalist Valentyna Troyan.
Velychko said she had compiled databases of the accounts and figures she was examining for her upcoming piece and sent them questions to ensure their right to respond. Most did not reply, and several of the subjects, following this exchange, launched a public campaign against the journalist, even though the investigation itself has not yet been released.
“I get the impression that people want to smear me for no reason at all. Simply for doing my job and wanting to inform society about the processes taking place in the media landscape,” Velychko said.
The journalist said the attack began with a story posted by blogger Anton Hura. He asked his audience whether Velychko enlisting in the army herself would count as a “pro-draft call.”
Following this, blogger Vladyslav Smyrnov made a Facebook post and a YouTube video throwing accusations at her and telling her what she should be doing instead. Velychko documented the initial instances of pressure through the NGO Women in Media.
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Later, the website UA News posted some material about her. Velychko says the website released “their own investigation” containing mostly inaccurate information.
The journalist said that the bloggers she was investigating have a combined audience of around 7 million subscribers across various platforms, which makes her worried for her own safety.
“These personalities are behaving extremely aggressively and provocatively. Analysing their content, I have found that a great many of them sync their messaging with Russian propaganda channels. My hypothesis is that these people are coordinating with Russian actors and that these attacks may have to do with Russia’s resistance to anyone exposing networks like this,” Velychko explained.
The journalist added that members of the network constantly quoted and defended one another, attending court hearings whenever suspicion notices were issued to some of them. Some of these bloggers, she added, already faced suspicion of criminal offences, including obstructing the work of the UAF and offences related to high treason.
So far, the journalist has documented instances of misogyny, degradation, and bullying. She has not yet contacted the police, but plans to file a report if there are any overt threats to her life and wellbeing.
In October 2025, Lyubov Velychko reported facing pressure from Ibox Bank lawyers after taking photos, audio and video recordings during a hearing in the case concerning the bank’s co-owner Alyona Shevtsova.
