The Prosecutor General's Office and the SBU reported that in Odesa, an enemy agent who planned to run for the Verkhovna Rada was "handing over" the locations of the Defence Forces and infrastructure facilities. He was served a notice of suspicion of high treason.
According to the investigation, since October 2023, the suspect has been cooperating with representatives of the Russian special services. He had the nickname Mazepa. He massively handed over to the enemy the locations of the Defence Forces personnel, the approximate coordinates of air defence systems in Odesa and energy infrastructure facilities.
His task was also to record the consequences of missile and drone attacks on Odesa, including the accuracy of the hits and the extent of the damage. The occupiers used this data to prepare new and adjust repeated attacks on Odesa.
To collect the necessary information, the suspect walked around the area and covertly recorded objects, and then transmitted a "report" to the FSB in the form of text messages, photographs, videos and marks on electronic maps.
As a reward for his "services", the Odesa resident demanded funding to run for the next convocation of the Verkhovna Rada and $5,500 per month. And in the case of the occupation of Odesa Region, he demanded to lead the Region and become the head of the so-called "regional branch of the United Russia party in the Odesa Republic of the Russian Federation".
The suspect managed to receive $1,300 in advance. He was detained while fixing an energy infrastructure facility in Odesa.
For its part, the SBU reported that over the past month, the suspect had been actively promoting his image as a potential candidate for the Ukrainian parliament. To do this, he joined a local NGO dealing with environmental issues and placed his political advertising on several passenger buses running around the city. According to the investigation, the money for both "projects" was allocated by the Russian secret service. Separately, he also requested a monthly remuneration of $5,500. Subsequently, the enemy agent wrote an application to join the Kremlin's United Russia party and, in the case of the occupation of the region, hoped to become a member of the senior management of the Russian occupation administration.
During the search at his place of residence, the SBU seized Molotov cocktails, which the man planned to use during mass gatherings of Odesa residents on the city's central streets. Mobile phones with evidence of his reconnaissance and subversive activities in favour of Russia were also seized.
At the request of the prosecutor, the suspect was chosen as a measure of restraint in the form of detention without bail. He faces life imprisonment.