The Security Service of Ukraine conducted a successful special operation, which resulted in the detection and neutralization of a large agent network that was preparing missile and drone attacks on six regions of Ukraine. Nine individuals associated with Russian special services were detained in the cities of Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Sumy, as well as in the Odesa, Kirovohrad and Donetsk regions.
According to information from the SBU press service, the spies worked autonomously so as not to reveal their activities, but they were all subordinate to one FSB officer, whose identity had already been identified. This agent coordinated the actions of the traitors and instructed them to collect information.
According to the investigation, the agents collected coordinates for possible missile strikes on Ukrainian positions and critical infrastructure. The network included two officials: one of them worked in the Dnipro City Council, and the other in the Yuzhne City Council in the Odessa region. They were engaged in reconnaissance of the locations of air defense systems and critical electrical substations.
Other agents were involved in gathering information about fortified areas and heavy artillery positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Pokrovsk and Chasovye Yar. One of the traitors also studied the deployment of personnel and equipment of the defenders of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk region.
The group also included two managers and a university student who monitored the movements of Ukrainian army echelons on the eastern front. Another agent, a former policeman, reported on the aftermath of attacks on a Ukrainian hydroelectric power plant.
The investigation found that most of the suspects came to the attention of the FSB through their activity in pro-Kremlin Telegram channels. After being recruited, the traitors maintained contact with the Russian curator through anonymous chatbots in the popular messenger.
During the searches, mobile phones with evidence of their activities in favor of the Russian Federation were seized from the detainees. The detainees were informed of suspicion under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason under martial law). Currently, the perpetrators are in custody and face life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The special operation was conducted under the procedural guidance of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.
