Notable Ukrainian activist injured in apparent assassination attempt

Ukrainian activist and volunteer Serhii Sternenko has been injured in an attack, called an attempted assassination by Ukraine’s Security Service. 

In a post on Telegram, Sternenko said, “I was attacked. I was wounded.” He added that his life is not in danger and that the suspected attacker had been detained.

“I am grateful to the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) for their quick response. If not for them, I wouldn’t be able to write anything anymore. They quite literally saved my life,” he said. 

According to the SBU, the attack on Sternenko involved a firearm. 

“Operational and investigative actions are ongoing. We will inform you about the progress of the situation separately,” the SBU said in a statement, sharing a photo of the suspect who was arrested.  

A vocal critic of Russia and its full-scale invasion, Sternenko is one of the most famous Ukrainian activists and volunteers, known for his crowdfunding campaigns to help the military. 

Since the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine, he has raised funds to help supply over 550 military units. 

Having played a key role in popularising first-person view (FPV) drones. in January, he launched the Sternenko Community Foundation.

According to its reports, the foundation raised funds to supply equipment to the frontline, including the purchase of over 176,000 FPV drones as of 1 May. 

Sternenko rose to popularity via his social media channels like YouTube, where he has over 2 million subscribers, and Telegram, where he is followed by 840,000 people. 

An active participant in Ukraine’s 2014 Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Maidan Revolution, he was attacked several times. In 2018, Sternenko inflicted a fatal injury on an assailant in self-defence, according to his lawyer.

In December 2023, an Odesa court closed a case against Sternenko for the death of the man who attacked him.