SBU to expel LifeNews journalists detained in Kyiv

The Ukrainian Security Service has confirmed the detention of two journalists from the Russian television channel LifeNews for activities that harm the national interests of Ukraine and are not related to journalism.

"I confirm that Ukrainian Security Service officials have detained two LifeNews journalists in Kyiv. Their permits to stay in Ukraine have been cancelled and they will be expelled from the territory of Ukraine in the nearest future. They will also be barred from Ukraine for five years," Markiyan Lubkivsky, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Security Service, told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

"We regard their activities as incompatible with journalism and harmful to national security and national interests of Ukraine," he said.

Lubkivsky did not specify under what circumstances the journalists were detained.

The administration of LifeNews reported earlier on Friday that the journalists had been detained by Ukrainian Security Service officers in Kyiv. "LifeNews have been detained by Ukrainian Security Service officers in Kyiv. They are taking them in an unknown direction," Aram Gabrelyanov, general director of the holding News Media, said on Twitter.

LifeNews reported on its website that the detained journalists are reporter Yelizaveta Khramtsova and cameraman Natalya Kalysheva.