The Security Service of Ukraine has detained a suspect in Kropyvnytskyi on suspicion of working for the FSB; according to the investigation, he was coordinating the preparation of missile and drone strikes against fuel and energy infrastructure in the central region. The man was detained whilst conducting reconnaissance near the target of the planned attack. He has been charged with high treason and is currently in custody.
Briefly about the main points
- The suspect was arrested whilst conducting reconnaissance near the target of the planned attack.
- The SBU seized a smartphone containing a recorded map of the external perimeter of an infrastructure facility.
- Two hunting knives were found on the man, presumably for the purpose of resisting arrest, the agency stated.
- Investigators believe he was recruited via Telegram channels offering opportunities to earn money.
- The suspect faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Knives and a smartphone were seized during the arrest
According to the SBU, the counter-intelligence service uncovered the suspect at the early stages of his collaboration with the FSB and caught him red-handed. Two hunting knives were seized from him. The agency stated that the man was carrying them with him so that, should he be exposed, he could resist the law enforcement officers; however, he did not have time to use them.
SBU officers also discovered a smartphone which the suspect had used to film the outer perimeter of a local infrastructure facility. According to the investigation, Russia was preparing a combined strike against it in real time.
The investigation described the route taken to collect the coordinates and the method of recruitment
According to the investigation, the FSB recruited a local unemployed man via Telegram channels with offers of «quick» money. Acting on instructions from his handler in Russia, he travelled around Kropyvnytskyi and the surrounding areas by taxi or bicycle, filming potential targets on his mobile phone and passing the footage to his handler.
The Russian side was most interested in the coordinates of infrastructure and logistics facilities, the SBU reported.
The suspect is in custody
SBU investigators informed the detainee that he was suspected of Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code — treason committed under martial law. Under this section, he faces life imprisonment and the confiscation of his property.
The suspect has been remanded in custody as a precautionary measure. The final decision on guilt and sentencing will be made by the court. The operation was carried out by SBU officers in the Kirovohrad region under the procedural supervision of the regional prosecutor’s office.
