TikTokker Arrested After Posting Video Of Ukrainian Military Vehicles Before Russia Destroyed Them
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A TikTokker has been arrested in Ukraine after they posted a video showing a fleet of military vehicles parked next to a shopping mall in the capital Kyiv.
Russian forces sent in an airstrike to the area this week and effectively reduced the mall to ruble. Surrounding buildings saw their glass windows shatter into a million pieces and debris was strewn everywhere.
The Security Service of Ukraine says the social media user has been taken into custody and posted a video of the man apologising.
The Security Service said in a statement (via Business Insider): "A TikTokker recently posted on the internet about the location of the Ukrainian military in Kyiv.
"Later, the shopping center, where our defenders were, was subjected to a powerful missile strike by the Russian occupiers.
"Knowingly or unknowingly, this man worked as a corrector for the enemy - an investigation will be established."
In his apology video, the man warned other Ukrainians not to post TikTok videos that could provide strategic information to Russian forces.
That message was echoed by Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, who said while social media can be a great tool for getting information out to the world, it can also be very detrimental when you're fighting in a war.
Klitschko said Ukrainians should avoid filming or photographing anything related to 'the movement of military equipment, checkpoints, strategic objects'.
Eight people were killed when Russia bombed the Retroville shopping mall on the northwestern outskirts of the city.
The Guardian reports the whole city shook when the airstrike landed close to 11pm earlier this week.
Local Vladimir told the news outlet: "I was just minding my business at home. My apartment shook with the force of the blast. I thought the building would collapse."
Another local explained how he was 'flung to the foot of the bed' when 'the biggest bomb to have hit the city' landed at the shopping centre. Dima said he's now terrified of what the Russians will do now that they're targeting places like malls.
The Retroville shopping mall was reportedly vastly popular amongst locals as it boasted 250 shops, big-name Western brands, a large cinema and parking facilities that could hold up to 3,000 vehicles. It was only opened in 2020 and now has been reduced to nothing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he's willing to make a compromise with Russia to ensure the violence stops. He said Ukraine won't seek a membership with NATO if Russia agrees to a ceasefire and pulls out of Ukraine.
"It's a compromise for everyone: for the West, which doesn't know what to do with us with regard to NATO, for Ukraine, which wants security guarantees, and for Russia, which doesn't want further NATO expansion," Zelenskyy said.
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