Head of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Maliuk discussed with the ambassadors of the G7 countries the situation related to the editorial office of Bihus.Info and assured that he would not allow violations of the principle of democracy in the activities of the SBU in terms of the independence of the media.

"Maliuk spoke about the Security Service's readiness to defend democratic values, one of the key pillars of which is freedom of speech. The ambassadors received answers about the situation that has developed around the editorial office of Bihus.Info," the Ukrainian intelligence service said in a statement on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.

With reference to Maliuk's words, the SBU message indicates that decisions on this issue – the dismissal of the head of the Department for the Protection of National Statehood and the reformatting of the work of a number of its divisions – were made.

"Independence in the work of the media must be ensured 100%. This is a standard that we must hold highly, especially during war. I will not allow any violations of this important principle of democracy in the activities of the SBU," the SBU head said.

During the meeting with the ambassadors, Maliuk noted the high level of interaction with partner intelligence services. "The war continues, we face new challenges. The security service is preparing to conduct new special operations. And, I hope, they will be successful," he said.

The SBU said the meeting with the ambassadors, initiated by the SBU, took place in Kyiv. The G7 was represented by Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Pier Francesco Zazo (Italy), Gael Veyssiere (France), Martin Jäger (Germany), Natalka Cmoc (Canada), Kuninori Matsuda (Japan), as well as Deputy Ambassador Nicolas Harrocks (Great Britain), Acting Ambassador James Hope (the United States) and Azier Santillan (EU Representative to Ukraine).

According to the report, Maliuk told foreign partners about the contribution the SBU makes to the defense of the country, countering external and internal enemies.

"The results of the work of the SBU are really many. The employees of the service work in the hottest spots of the war. Over almost two years of a full-scale war, more than 930 of our soldiers received state awards, including 12 Heroes of Ukraine. The SBU soldiers destroyed Russian armored vehicles worth over $1 billion, destroyed more than 500 tanks. We also exposed 47 enemy intelligence networks in a year. All the numbers speak for themselves," the SBU head said.

He thanked the partner countries for supporting Ukraine.

"In turn, representatives of the G7 noted the high level of special operations of the SBU and how professionally the special service counters Russian aggression at the front and carries out counterintelligence activities," the special service said in the statement.