KIEV, June 7 – Ukraine’s leading independent television news channel on Monday accused the chief of the country’s SBU security service of attempting to “destroy” the station by seeking to cancel its broadcasting license.

Channel 5, in an open letter aired in prime time news program late Monday, appealed to President Viktor Yanukovych for protection against SBU chief Valeriy Khoroshkovskiy, who also owns Inter television and other media assets.

“Due to the unprecedented situation, we need your personal protection,” said the letter signed by 500 news staffers of Channel 5.

Channel 5, which is known for its unbiased coverage of political news, becomes the third major television station over the past 30 days that have come under pressure from the authorities.