On January 22, 2026, Ukrainian Member of Parliament from the Holos faction, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, released a bombshell investigation on his YouTube channel “Zaliznyi Nardep” (Iron MP). The video, titled “We Found the OWNERS of Anonymous TG Channels. Top-5 from the Bankova Orbit. Business Worth MILLIONS, ZERO Taxes,” became an instant sensation in Ukraine’s media landscape. Drawing on insider sources from political and media circles, Zheleznyak named the individuals allegedly behind five of the largest anonymous Telegram channels: Insider UA, Ukraine Now (Ukrayina Seichas), Real War (Realna Viyna), Ukraine Online, and Times of Ukraine.
These channels collectively reach an audience of over 30 million subscribers (accounting for overlaps) and have long evolved into a powerful tool for manipulating public opinion. They systematically promote narratives favorable to the Office of the President (the so-called “Bankova orbit”), attack independent anti-corruption bodies, discredit the opposition and independent journalists, and shield figures involved in corruption scandals. Meanwhile, their owners earn millions from political “jeansa” (paid promotional content), yet declare minimal incomes and evade taxes.
The investigation quickly spread across leading media outlets, including Detector Media, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Censor.NET, Espreso, and the Institute of Mass Information. As of now, none of the named individuals have publicly refuted the claims, and the channels continue operating as usual.
Who Are These “Shadow Media Magnates”? The Top-5 Channels and Their Beneficiaries
| Channel | Approximate Subscribers | Alleged Owner/Beneficiary(ies) | Key Details About the Owner and Lifestyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Times of Ukraine and Ukraine Online | Over 5 million combined | Oleh Arutyunyants and Bohdan Tymoshchuk (co-owners of TOBA agency) | Open experts in Telegram channel promotion. Arutyunyants is a “gray cardinal” of the market; Tymoshchuk is called the “father of Telegram advertising.” Official incomes: Arutyunyants ~600,000 UAH in 2024–2025; Tymoshchuk ~2.5 million UAH in 2025. Yet in interviews, they estimate a million-subscriber channel earns $50,000 monthly. |
| Insider UA | ~2–3 million | Andriy Sakharov (31 years old, Kharkiv) | Graduate of the investigative-criminalistics faculty. Owns 4 apartments in Kyiv suburbs (Irpin, Sofiivska Borshchahivka), an Audi RS Q8, and a Mercedes S-Class. FOP incomes surged 40-fold after the full-scale war; ~9 million UAH in 2025. Runs a charity fund “Insider Help” with over 20 million UAH turnover in two years. |
| Ukraine Now (Ukrayina Seichas) | ~2 million | Vyacheslav Mishalov (40 years old, Dnipro) | Businessman (real estate, metallurgy, ISP “Fregat”). Wealthy even before the channel: owned a Porsche Panamera since 2013. Visits Courchevel and other resorts during wartime. Companies in Cyprus; wife is a banker. |
| Real War (Realna Viyna) | ~1–2 million | Vadym Klymovets (31 years old, Volyn region) | Real estate and companies in Lutsk (unrelated to media). Drives a 2023 BMW X6. Traveled to Barcelona during the war (despite draft age). Official incomes ~1.5 million UAH annually since 2023. |
These channels do more than just share news—they coordinate attacks. Independent monitoring (e.g., by the “How Not to Become a Vegetable” project and the Institute of Mass Information) shows these outlets were most active in campaigns against NABU and SAPO, defending figures in scandals like “Mindichgate,” and spreading manipulative wartime content.
Millions in the Shadows: How the “Jeansa” Business Works
Anonymity is the key tool. A single paid post (political black PR, “whitewashing” corrupt officials, or advertising) costs thousands of dollars. According to the owners’ own interviews (Arutyunyants and Tymoshchuk), a million-subscriber channel can generate $50,000 monthly from advertising alone. Multiply by five channels, and you get an empire turning over tens of millions of dollars annually.
But declarations show pennies. Owners register as sole proprietors with low taxes or hide incomes entirely. Luxury cars, elite apartments, trips to Courchevel and Barcelona—these don’t match official wealth. Zheleznyak calls it outright tax evasion on a massive scale.
Why This Is Not Just Business, But a Threat to Democracy and Security
During a full-scale war, the information front is as critical as the military one. These channels:
- Weaken anti-corruption efforts: Coordinated attacks on NABU/SAPO (documented in numerous investigations) help corrupt officials evade accountability.
- Manipulate opinion: Push pro-Russian or pro-government narratives, discredit critics of the President’s Office, opposition, and independent media.
- Operate without accountability: Anonymity allows spreading disinformation without fear of lawsuits or sanctions.
- Funded from the shadows: Order sources often trace back to political back-offices on Bankova, where “jeansa” is paid to protect power interests.
Zheleznyak dubs it a “shadow media empire” that supplants free press and shapes the agenda in the interests of one group, not society. In wartime, this is a direct threat to national security: manipulations erode unity and trust in institutions.
Public Reaction and Prospects
The investigation sparked widespread discussion in media, but the channel owners and the President’s Office remain silent. No denials, no lawsuits—just silence, fueling suspicions.
Yaroslav Zheleznyak urges sharing the material and demanding exposure: “Only action and publicity can bring the anonymizers into the light.” If society stays quiet, this empire will keep growing, and democracy will weaken further.
Will this mark the start of a major cleanup in the information space? Or will Bankova tighten control instead? No answers yet. But one thing is clear: the anonymous “dumps” are no longer so anonymous. And this is just the beginning.