An engineer from Mykolaiv was sentenced to 15 years for working for the FSB

A design engineer at one of the defense plants in Mykolaiv attempted to pass on classified designs from the Ukrainian defense industry to the FSB. Based on evidence provided by the SBU, the court found him guilty of treason and sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

 

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported on the verdict against a design engineer at one of the defense plants in Mykolaiv. According to the investigation, the man worked for the FSB and gathered information on Ukrainian military developments for the Russian intelligence service.

The SBU exposed him in October 2024 in Mykolaiv. According to the security service, the Russians enlisted the engineer’s former colleague—who has been living in Russia since the 2000s—to recruit him. “It has been established that to recruit this suspect, the FSB enlisted the help of the official’s former colleague, who has been living in Russia since the 2000s,” the SBU statement reads.

According to the investigation, the Russians’ main objective was to obtain technical documentation on the production of the latest gas turbine engines. The SBU notes that the occupiers planned to use these developments for the needs of Russia’s military-industrial complex. The engineer was supposed to photograph the classified documents with his phone. He was then supposed to send the files to a Russian handler via a messaging app. “Following the handler’s instructions, the agent was to photograph the classified documentation with his phone’s camera and send the files to Russia via a messaging app,” the SBU said.

However, his tasks did not end there. According to the Ukrainian security service, the man also gathered information about the Defense Forces and energy facilities in Mykolaiv. In particular, he documented the temporary deployment locations of Ukrainian troops. The agent also assessed the technical condition of energy facilities that the Russians could use as targets for missile and drone attacks.

To do this, according to the SBU, the man drove around the outskirts of Mykolaiv in his own car. During these trips, he identified the necessary facilities and recorded their geolocations on his smartphone. To conceal his activities, the agent used an anonymous email account. After each communication session with his Russian handler, he deleted the correspondence. SBU counterintelligence officers gradually documented his activities. Ultimately, the man was detained at his home.

During searches, law enforcement officers seized computer equipment and cell phones. According to the SBU, they found evidence on these devices of his work for the Russian intelligence service. The court found the engineer guilty under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—treason committed under martial law. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. This is stated in an SBU press release.

As a reminder, over the past 24 hours, Russian invaders suffered 1,520 casualties. Additionally, one tank, five armored combat vehicles, and 73 artillery systems were destroyed.

Occupied Donetsk and a significant portion of the region’s territory temporarily seized by Russian terrorists were left without power on September 18. 

On the night of Saturday, September 19, the Russian terrorist army struck Pavlohrad. A fire has been reported.