Ukraine arrests Russian spy in Kirovohrad Oblast
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced the arrest of an alleged Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent, accusing him of espionage on behalf of the FSB within Ukrainian territory, the SBU reported on Telegram on July 28.
The agent was gathering intelligence on the
deployment of Ukrainian defense forces in Kirovohrad Oblast. The SBU investigators
have charged the suspect with high treason (Article 111, Part 2 of the Criminal
Code of Ukraine). The suspect is currently in custody, and if found guilty,
could face a lifetime behind bars.
Originally from Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast,
the perpetrator was recruited by the FSB before the full-scale invasion of
Ukraine. His mission was to infiltrate Kirovohrad Oblast, where he pretended to
be an “eastern Ukrainian refugee” to carry out intelligence and subversive
activities, starting from Feb. 24, 2022.
Specifically, the SBU alleges that the
suspect intended to identify the locations of Ukrainian Armed Forces units,
positions of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense, and the whereabouts of local
territorial defense headquarters. According to the SBU’s information, the
individual settled in a community Kirovohrad Oblast and secured a job as a
repairman at a military facility in the oblast to gain access to this
information.
For each accomplished task, the Russian
occupiers “guaranteed” him a financial reward of up to 5,000 hryvnias ($135).
As part of this “reward,” the FSB allegedly offered to evacuate the suspect to
Russia and provide employment within their special services.
Media files found on the suspect contained
coordinates and reference points intended to assist Russian forces in preparing
for a new aerial attack on the oblast.
On July 27, the SBU arrested another
Russian agent who was allegedly involved in plotting a new aerial strike on
Kharkiv. The man has been charged with state treason, and potentially faces a
life sentence.
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