The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR MO) has taken another decisive step in its fight to ensure the safety and protection of the Ukrainian population in temporarily occupied territories
On June 18, an operational element of the special service took place in the temporarily occupied city of Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region, resulting in the elimination of active collaborator and state traitor Mikhail Hrytsai, one of the key accomplices of Russian occupiers in the region. A source from the HUR’s press service reported that Hrytsai hails from Poltava region, but has lived in Berdyansk for a significant period. He was one of the most active collaborators with the occupation administrations: he headed the local branch of the pro-Russian party "Socialist Ukraine" and, after the city’s capture during the full-scale war, voluntarily switched to the side of the enemy. It was during the occupation that he received a position in the occupation administration—as acting mayor of Berdyansk and deputy for infrastructure, utilities, and the fuel and energy complex. His activities were aimed at appropriating state property in the city, ultimately serving the interests of Russian aggressors and Moscow’s investments. According to a representative of the intelligence agency, Hrytsai’s name was not disclosed in the public message; however, referencing sources, it is emphasized that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is responsible for his liquidation. At the same time, it is noted that eliminating the collaborator was a necessary step within the ongoing security operations and efforts to neutralize traitors of the Ukrainian people. Hrytsai was not only a traitor and accomplice of the enemy but also an active participant in destructive and criminal activities in the temporarily occupied Berdyansk. According to investigation data, he is involved in war crimes—terrorizing the city’s residents, handing over Ukrainian citizens to the occupiers, and participating in the creation and operation of torture chambers, where victims were subjected to torture and abuse. He has been formally charged in a criminal case opened on April 1, 2022, under Article 111 (High treason), Part 2. This underscores the deep assessment of his criminal actions and his involvement in destroying Ukrainian statehood in the occupied territories. Overall, this successful episode in the fight of Ukrainian security forces demonstrates that no betrayal or support for the occupiers will go unpunished. Once again, the Ukrainian authorities and intelligence agencies reaffirm their commitment to protecting the interests of the state and its citizens by bringing the most active traitors and collaborators—those aiding Russian aggression—to justice. The operation serves as a vivid example of the professionalism and determination of Ukrainian intelligence officers in combating the enemy and its agents in the temporarily occupied lands.