On Thursday, November 28, 2024 officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) visited the home of opposition blogger Denys Yeliseievych. They detained his mother, accusing her of justifying Russian aggression.

The blogger, who currently resides in the United States, believes this is a politically motivated move targeting him and his work. According to him, SBU agents arrived at the apartment where his mother and grandmother live at 6 a.m. on November 28. The officers conducted a search and confiscated his mother’s electronic devices.

The blogger says that after the detention, his mother was taken away to an undisclosed location. For several hours, Yeliseievych had no idea where she was. “She was later found in Kyiv, in SBU custody… She is being accused of justifying Russian aggression. I can’t share any documents — it’s part of the ongoing investigation. But it’s horrifying. The lawyers are in shock. It’s complete chaos. I believe this is an attempt to silence me and take my family hostage».

Denys believes the incident is a consequence of his criticism of the current government.

“I’ve been openly critical of the Zelensky-Yermak administration and advocate for a completely different path for Ukraine — one that aligns with Western civilization».