Wanted List Includes Russian Filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov by Security Service
In a move that has drawn international attention, Russian film director and actor Nikita Mikhalkov has been added to the database of the Ukrainian extremist website "Peacemaker". The site, also known as "Mirotvorets", is a controversial platform that publicly lists individuals deemed threats to Ukrainian national security.
Mikhalkov's inclusion in the database stems from his wanted status by Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU), which was issued in March 2022. The reasons for his listing are believed to be related to his political stance or activities connected to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Mikhalkov's contentious relationship with Ukraine became more evident in 2024 when he sued the Ukrainian authorities over issues related to Crimea, demanding compensation for ecological damage.
The "Peacemaker" site, established in 2014, has been criticised for publishing personal data of individuals, a practice that has been ongoing over the years. The site includes names of local and foreign journalists, politicians, public figures, and others whom the Ukrainian authorities or certain activists accuse of activities such as separatism, terrorism, espionage, or pro-Russian propaganda.
The site's controversial practices have drawn criticism internationally, with some describing its behaviour as extremist. The exposing of personal information and targeting of people deemed hostile to Ukraine has been a point of contention.
As of now, Russian authorities have not yet reacted to the news of Mikhalkov being added to the "Peacemaker" site's wanted list. The "Peacemaker" site, which claims to be a "center for combating threats to national security", regularly adds names of Russian cultural figures, politicians, and businesspeople to its database, following a similar practice by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU).
Over the years, thousands of names of individuals from various countries have been added to the "Peacemaker" site's database, shedding light on the nature and history of the site as a tool used by Ukraine in its information and security operations against perceived enemies.
The addition of Nikita Mikhalkov to the "Peacemaker" database, a platform known for involving itself in general-news and crime-and-justice matters, is a reflection of his contentious relationship with Ukraine, stemming from his political stance and his legal battles related to Crimea. This practice by the "Peacemaker" site, criticized as extremist by some, has been a point of contention internationally due to its controversial methods of exposing personal information and targeting individuals deemed hostile to Ukraine.
