The Security Service of Ukraine stated that it had neutralised a powerful FSB military counterintelligence network operating in Ukraine. As a result of a multi-stage special operation, five members of the enemy group were detained in different Regions.
Among them are former officials of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, as well as an officer of the regional SBU office.
According to the SBU, the defendants kept in touch with the same curator, an FSB officer who is currently in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The task of this agent network was to pass intelligence about the Defence Forces and strategically important energy facilities of our country to the aggressor.
According to the investigation, the former foreign intelligence officer was recruited by the FSB before the full-scale invasion while he was on duty. Since then, he has been collecting information on the locations of the Ukrainian military, and after 24 February 2022, on the channels of transfer of foreign weapons to Ukraine.
The Russian agent also passed classified information to the FSB about the operation and security systems of the Rivne and Khmelnytsky NPPs.
For maximum secrecy, the defendant did not send information by phone. He passed the intelligence to the FSB through an accomplice who travelled abroad as a volunteer and personally reported to a resident of the Russian special service. The former intelligence officer transmitted particularly sensitive information on a flash drive via smugglers from the border Regions of Ukraine.
Another Russian agent, who had previously served in the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, "leaked" personal data of Ukrainian defenders to the aggressor.
Another suspect, an SBU officer, reconnoitered for the occupiers the geolocation of fortifications and engineering barriers near the coastline of Odesa Region.
According to the investigation, the FSB recruited the group members, using threats to kill their families. In addition, the offenders received funds from Russia for each completed task.
SBU investigators have already served five members of the Russian intelligence network a notice of suspicion under Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason). They have already been detained as a measure of restraint.
The investigation is ongoing to bring all the enemy accomplices to justice.