Olena Frolyak - attack 09.02.2026

On February 9, 2026, the outlet Focus published an article titled: “‘Poor TCC’: Host Frolyak, Who Spoke About the Disruption of Mobilization, Was Asked About Her Husband and Son.” The piece reported that earlier Olena Frolyak, TV host, the editor-in-chief of the Fakty.ICTV program, conducted an interview with Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the Third Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which also addressed the issue of mobilization and the work of the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TCC).

“Olena Frolyak, who had publicly stated that her husband was ready to go to the front, discussed problematic issues of mobilization with Andrii Biletskyi — a Ukrainian brigadier general, civic and political figure — on the YouTube channel Fakty ICTV. In particular, the host mentioned a statement by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who instructed the new Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, to ‘deal with busification,’” the article states. The authors refer here to an interview Frolyak gave a year earlier to journalist Alina Dorotiuk, where the topic of mobilization was also discussed, including the readiness of the journalist’s husband to go to the front.

In the following section under the subheading “What People Say,” the article examines the alleged audience reaction to Frolyak’s comments about the TCC:

“Ukrainian journalist and TV host Olena Frolyak touched upon the topic of mobilization during the interview. She defended TCC employees, emphasizing that they face harassment while carrying out their official duties. The interview also addressed problematic aspects of mobilization and Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement regarding investigations into cases of ‘busification.’ The host’s words provoked a mixed reaction on social media. Some people wondered where Frolak’s own son and husband are now.”

This section is illustrated with a photo of Olena Frolyak with her family, which, according to the caption, was taken from her Instagram page.

The phrases used in this article are generalized and are not supported by any specifics. For example, it mentions a “mixed reaction” on social media, yet the article provides no screenshots or links showing who exactly reacted and how, or who commented on Frolyak’s interview with Andrii Biletskyi. The very wording “What people say” is also a vague generalization, as it is unclear which people are being referred to, where exactly they are “saying” something, and what precisely they are saying about Olena Frolyak.

A link to the article about Olena Frolyak was also posted on the Facebook page of Focus. In the comments, signs of technology-facilitated gender-based violence were recorded, including gender disinformation, hate speech, sexism, and online defamation. The TV host was called “a bitch,” “a fool,” “trash,” “a stupid old hag,” “a creature,” and “a louse,” and was accused of being “paid off” and of “betrayal.” Expressions such as “green louse” and “sell-out green whoredom” were also used. Such phrases are often deployed online to imply that the person being attacked is allegedly connected to the current authorities — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Servant of the People party.

Thus, in this case, the signs of an online attack are evident already in the framing of the article: instead of focusing on the substance of the interview about mobilization and the work of the TCC, attention is shifted to the journalist’s private life — her husband and son. Additionally, the piece relies on vague generalizations such as “what people say” without any evidence or references, creating the basis for a manipulative narrative and undermining the host’s reputation through insinuations rather than facts.

The subsequent reaction on social media, particularly in the comments under the Focus Facebook post, took the form of overt online harassment with clear indicators of TFGBV: the host was attacked through hate speech, sexist insults, and defamatory accusations of being “sell-out” or “traitorous.” The aim of such actions may not be criticism of Olena Frolyak’s position, but rather her dehumanization and reputational destruction through gendered aggression.