The Security Service of Ukraine reported the detention of a kindergarten guard in Zaporizhzhya on suspicion of targeting Russian missiles at the homes of civilian Ukrainians.
It has been established that the occupiers shelled residential buildings in the village of Stepnohirsk on the eve of 2024 at his guidance. A 43-year-old man died as a result of the attack, and many private homes were damaged or completely destroyed.
According to the investigation, Russian fire was guided by a security guard at a local kindergarten. In December last year, the man was remotely recruited by a representative of the Russian GRU.
He got to know the occupiers through his acquaintance, a chorister of the local UOC (MP) church, who fled to the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhya Region, where she works for the Russia's intelligence service.
On the instructions of the Russian GRU, the agent collected intelligence on the locations and movements of the Defence Forces in the Zaporizhzhya sector. The enemy was particularly interested in the places of the largest concentration of personnel and military equipment of Ukrainian troops.
In addition, he was adjusting Russian missile strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure in the Region, which caused civilian casualties.
SBU officers detained the Russian agent in his own home. During the search, they seized his mobile phone, which he used to communicate with the Russian GRU via a popular messenger.
The detainee has been served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 Article 28, Part 2 Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons).
He is in custody. The defendant faces life imprisonment.