UKRAINIAN communists called for solidarity actions today to protest against “unprecedented attacks on democracy” after three opposition television stations were shut down by presidential decree.

It comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky placed sanctions on Ukrainian MP and 112 TV owner station Taras Kocak on Tuesday. 

Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council accused his TV channel, along with NewsOne and ZIK, of being used as Russian “psyops” to undermine the country’s military and economic stability. 

The 112 station was attacked in November of last year by members of far-right organisation Nevidomy Patriot.

CCTV footage showed a participant whom Mr Kozak claimed was Serhiy Karhorodsky, a fascist associated with the OUN Battalion, named for the Nazi collaborator organisation of World War II.

Communist Party of Ukraine first secretary Petro Symonenko warned that the ban was “the road to the establishment of a personal dictatorship in the country.

“The blocking of three opposition TV channels without trial or investigation is the most unprecedented attack on democracy and freedom of speech in the entire history of Ukraine,” he said.

“We call for support, solidarity and common actions against this brutal violation of human rights,” Mr Symonenko said.