The Security Service of Ukraine has uncovered an agent network of Russia’s GRU that included 14 people. They collected intelligence on Ukrainian air bases and on F-16 and Mirage 2000 aircraft. The agents also passed information to the enemy about aircraft takeoffs and landings.
The SBU press service reported this.
The network was organized by a man from Lviv who ran a Telegram channel about aviation. Russian special services brought him in after he posted photos of Ukrainian military aircraft in pro-Kremlin chats. He later recruited 13 subscribers with professional photo equipment who lived near aviation infrastructure of the Defence Forces.
They photographed airfields, aircraft, crews, and technical personnel, and also recorded the times of takeoffs and landings. The photos were uploaded to an online storage service to which a Russian handler had access. In addition, one of those involved passed the Russians flight schedules for combat helicopters, which he received from the commander of an Air Force squadron of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During searches, law enforcement officers seized phones and digital photo equipment containing evidence of work for the Russian Federation. The SBU also blocked four Telegram channels and 10 тематичних groups.
The detained agent, his accomplice, and a serviceman were notified of suspicion in crimes against the foundations of national security. The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement is identifying other members of the network.
