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SSU Detains Russian Spy Targeting Ukrainian Military
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has arrested a Russian national who allegedly gathered intelligence on Ukrainian military positions, particularly air defenses and airfields.
Photo: Ukrinform EN
The suspect, a Russian citizen with a permanent residence permit in Ukraine, operated under the guise of a welder for a private company in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The SSU reported that he was tasked with tracking the locations of Ukrainian Defense Forces units to facilitate missile and drone attacks against them.
This included taking notes during business trips across various parts of Ukraine. Among the critical sites the individual was observed monitoring were air defense facilities, checkpoints, and airfields, specifically in the Dnipropetrovsk region and western Ukraine.
The SSU's investigation revealed that the detainee marked military locations on Google Maps and compiled reports intended for Russian military intelligence, commonly known as the GRU. His espionage operations extended to identifying local airfields housing combat aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, the suspect was under surveillance from the beginning of his activities, which allowed investigators to document his crimes and gather extensive evidence against him. The suspect was detained in the Kirovohrad region where he resided.
Authorities confirmed that he was recruited by the GRU through an acquaintance involved with Russian forces in the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia region. During the arrest, SSU agents seized a smartphone containing evidence of the suspect's communications with his handlers in Russia.
Ukrainian prosecutors have charged him under Part 3 of Article 114-2 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which pertains to unauthorized dissemination of information regarding military deployments, committed during a state of martial law. If convicted, the Russian national faces a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
This operation reflects ongoing efforts by the SSU to counteract Russian espionage and infiltration amidst the ongoing conflict. Recently, Ukraine has intensified counterintelligence activities to disrupt enemy operations within its borders.
Source: Ukrinform EN Ukrinform EN