Tkach has been released in Vienna: espionage suspicions were not confirmed

Operator Yaroslav Bondarenko remains in custody

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09 Oct 2026

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Михайло Ткач, якого звільнили після затримання у Відні

In the capital of Austria, Vienna, investigative journalist and head of the investigations department at Ukrainska Pravda Mykhailo Tkach was released after being detained for more than 12 hours. He and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko were detained on suspicion of espionage. However, according to the Austrian prosecutor’s office, the suspicion against the journalists was not substantiated. Despite this, the cameraman, who was injured during his detention, remained in custody at the time of the Austrian authorities’ statement.

Details of the incident were reported on October 9, 2026 by European Pravda, citing Austrian media and law enforcement officials.

Ukrainska Pravda’s editor-in-chief, Sevgil Musaieva, said that Mykhailo Tkach was released at 4:00 a.m. on October 9, after spending more than 12 hours in custody. However, his communication devices were not returned, so the newsroom could not contact the journalist directly at the time of the announcement.

The condition of cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko was a separate cause for concern. According to the editor-in-chief, he was injured during his detention and was in hospital. Police did not begin questioning him until nighttime. The newsroom also lacked clear information about the procedural status of both its employees.

Commenting on the journalists’ prolonged detention, Sevgil Musaieva stressed that similar incidents while carrying out editorial assignments had previously been resolved much more quickly.

“This is the first time our colleagues have been held for more than 12 hours.”

The crew’s detention was reported on October 8. The journalists were in Vienna on an editorial assignment related to locating former Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko.

After learning of the incident, the Ukrainska Pravda newsroom demanded the immediate release of its employees and an official explanation of the Austrian law enforcement authorities’ actions.

Ukrainian diplomats also joined efforts to clarify the circumstances. The Embassy of Ukraine in Austria sent a formal inquiry to the Austrian side. The Ukrainian consul was granted access to Mykhailo Tkach and was able to speak with him.

On October 9, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said that a total of four Ukrainian citizens had been detained in Vienna on suspicion of espionage over the course of the week. The Austrian broadcaster ORF reported this.

According to the minister, two Ukrainians were detained at the beginning of the week, and another two — journalist Mykhailo Tkach and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko — were detained on Thursday, October 8.

At the time of Gerhard Karner’s statement, the journalist had already been released, while his cameraman remained in custody.

Vienna prosecutor’s office spokesperson Nina Bussek explained that suspicions regarding Mykhailo Tkach and Yaroslav Bondarenko had arisen during a separate investigation, but were not substantiated.

She clarified that one of the two detainees had already been released. The other was still being questioned, although there was not sufficient evidence at that time to substantiate the suspicion that he had committed a crime.

Meanwhile, the two other Ukrainian citizens detained by Austrian law enforcement at the beginning of the week in connection with a possible espionage case were remanded in custody.

Thus, according to the Austrian authorities’ statement, Mykhailo Tkach had been released, but questions about the continued detention of Yaroslav Bondarenko, the circumstances of his injury, and the final procedural status of both journalists remained unresolved.