“Someone destroys monuments, someone makes fun of local residents, portraying themselves as Germans”: People’s Deputy Artem Dmytruk criticized the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a result of which a loud scandal arose

On August 17, People’s Deputy of Ukraine Artem Dmytruk published a Telegram post in which he criticized the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region.
“Recently, footage has begun to appear showing the actions of our soldiers in the Kursk region. Someone destroys monuments, someone mocks local residents, grandfathers, pretending to be Germans, someone makes a mess in shops. You look at it and the question arises: why? What do we want to prove with this?
But let’s think about it. These are the actions – what is our strategy? I doubt it. Is there anything “heroic” or “patriotic” about it? No, of course. This is pure work against ourselves. And the matter is not only in the moral aspect. Every such incident works against us! Yes, that’s right. Because every such video is an increase in volunteers in the ranks of the Russian army, it is another reason for mobilization and so on and so forth.
We need to think one step ahead. We should be working to debunk their propaganda, not to confirm it. It is necessary to show the height of our knowledge, abilities and skills. But instead, we show the baseness of our actions, and we create even more problems for ourselves with our own hands.” – wrote Dmytruk.
The people’s deputy’s post caused great indignation among the deputies, the military and bloggers. Moreover, Dmytruk stated that he is being watched, and he receives death threats.
Secretary of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, Roman Kostenko, emphasized that people’s deputies should not tell the Armed Forces of Ukraine what to do, and even more so play along with Russia.
“I believe that people’s deputies should not tell the Armed Forces what to do, let alone play along with that side in this way. I know 100% that there is no action going on there that would harm the local population or anything.
Such statements can clearly discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The enemy is now trying with all his might to find pretexts, and where is it possible to show the international community the stories that are happening there, to once again raise the favorite topic – about “Nazis”, about “fascists” and all that; and cannot find it. And our people’s deputies can show it. You saw what kind of resources were used to disperse it.” – stated Roman Kostenko.
According to Artem Dmytruk, one of the first to respond to his post was Yevhen Karas, deputy commander of the 14th regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He announced a “hunt” for the people’s deputy, who, in his opinion, works for the Russian Federation.
“Let’s catechize (obscene swearing, – ed.)…. Dmytrouk Today he called our heroic soldiers who are fighting in difficult battles in Kurshchyna. Who knows where the rat of the FSB is moving, how many guards, (obscene language, – ed.)… points, locations,” wrote the deputy commander of the 14th regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In addition, Karas promised legal assistance if Dmytrouk’s attackers are arrested.
“Who is ready to sit in a pre-trial detention center (not a fact, we will beat him through lawyers, but it is possible) and become a national hero of Ukraine for stringing a larva, write too”, – it is said in messages Karasya
He also added:
“Who beats (obscene language, – ed.) Dmytrouk, we will give a two-meter flag “Explorations by Noah” and a full collection of our merch, even future releases. And you know that it is not so easy to get that flag, but it is much easier to catch a bearded man or surround his car.”
In turn, Dmytruk reacted to Karas’s words:
“Yevhen Karas is one of the main schismatics of our country. Based on his stupidity, he decided that I called the soldiers who are carrying out an operation in the Kursk region! And called to hunt me. He promises that the one who “stuns” me will be a national hero and will not bear any responsibility for it.
I will answer you, Zhenya. Every other day, I ride a bicycle along the health route in Odesa. You can come and take a photo with me. But let’s get serious now. First. The call for violence against the People’s Deputy was recorded publicly. Second. How long will it take the law enforcement officers to open a criminal case against Karas?
I hope that tomorrow it will be done even without my statements, although we will definitely write them and submit them to the relevant authorities! The reaction, I hope, will come immediately!
And about Karas. I remind you that Karas was one of the suspects in the murder of the writer Oles Buzyna, but at that time it was not possible to prove his involvement in the crime.” – wrote people’s deputy in his Telegram.
Deputy Commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade Maksym Zhorin, commenting on Artem Dmytruk’s message on August 19, reminded that he cannot “spread openly Russian narratives with impunity.”
“I want to remind you what happened on Ukrainian streets before the start of a full-scale war. Especially to some poorly developed deputies like Dmytrouk, who for some reason decided that he could spread openly Russian narratives with impunity. Rashka was very active in building her movements here, masquerading as political forces. For example, the sub-party of Sharia, whose roosters received p***ley all over the country. There was Ilya Kiva, who was involved in the formation of a pro-Russian power bloc. Accidents always happened to his morons, too. I don’t think I need to remind you about the nod itself.
Today, we have new pro-Russian projects, into which money is being poured in abundance. I can assume that the same fate awaits them soon, because there are enough caring patriots throughout Ukraine. When law enforcement agencies do not provide a timely response, the street takes the initiative. I note that I am not threatening, but simply helping to predict possible options for the further development of events.” – wrote Zhorin in his Telegram.
The scandalously famous blogger Serhii Sternenko also published a post in which he reminded that Dmytruk “openly worked for Medvedchuk and continues to defend Russian interests” and noted that he “must be legally punished.”
Blogger Ihor Lachenkov appealed to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin and stated that Dmytruk’s post was about “treason”. He also noted that the post of People’s Deputy was held by Anatoliy Shariy.
Yuriy Vasylchenko, a political commentator, about the unfolding of the scandal expressed himself So:
“As we can see, the critic of the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kurshchyna previously got away dry, and the lack of reaction to his post from those who should have reacted quickly in a legal way indicates that this time it may also be missed. Despite the indignation of some public activists and the military. There are several reasons to think so.
First of all, Dmytruk has not been a member of the presidential faction for a long time, and the Servants of the People traditionally take a detached position in relation to those excluded from the ranks. Not ours – period. That is, no one in the presidential faction will initiate obstruction of Dmytrouk.
Secondly, if Stefanchuk and Kornienko are silent, it means that they do not want to be the initiators of the appeal to the law enforcement officers regarding the assessment of the statements of their colleague in the parliament. We will try to assume that the aloofness from the scandal is explained by the reluctance to aggravate the situation in the Council, where talks about drawing up mandates by a number of People’s Deputies, mainly from the pro-government faction, who are dissatisfied with their current position, have died down. The last time the ranks of people’s elected officials were thinned was in December of last year, when three legislators took mandates at once.
In January, Davyd Arahamia complained that as many as 17 people had written applications for drawing up credentials. But during 2024, it was still possible to avoid losses in the depcorpus. Despite several high-profile scandals. It is possible that the unfolding of the scandal surrounding Dmytrouk is seen as a scenario capable of re-actualizing the fall of the deputy.
Thirdly, there is an assumption that the political technologists of the government keep in mind the technology of controlled political power for “cotton players”, who will remain in abundance even after the war. That is why they touch only too odious pro-Russian politicians or those persons who openly work against the state, and not erase from the political map all supporters of “Russian peace”. Simply put, they keep such people with a view to the next parliamentary elections. On the other hand, lack of reaction is also a bad option. The patriotic part of the society will force the authorities to stop their silence, will demand to open a case against a critic of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the relevant political background.”
On August 19, Artem Dmytruk again published post in Telegram, where he stated that “certain organized criminal groups have started preparing an attempt on him and his family.” The People’s Deputy stated that he was receiving death threats, noted that he was being monitored and stated that he “already sent relevant applications to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police, the Security Intelligence Service and the Security Service of Ukraine” and asked for security, but he was refused.
“The state security company was forbidden to protect me and the children. Not Artem. And a girl with small children. They do not allow protection from murder, from abduction of children, from inflicting physical harm.” Dmytruk wrote.
The People’s Deputy also stated that he “does not have supervisors and managers.”
“I did not follow and do not follow any instructions, I did not cooperate with anyone and did not cooperate!”, – summed up Dmytruk.