Russian agent detained in Odesa for gathering data on Ukraine’s security services
Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a female agent of Russian military intelligence in Odesa in the act while she was conducting reconnaissance near a restricted facility. The woman was adjusting enemy attacks on the city and supporting the occupiers on social media.
This was reported by the SBU.
According to the SBU’s Main Department of Internal Security, among the potential targets whose coordinates were collected by the suspect were units of Ukraine’s security services carrying out combat missions in the southern direction. The investigation established that the guidance of air strikes was carried out by a 52-year-old unemployed local resident recruited by the enemy. She came to the attention of the occupiers through an acquaintance living in Russia who cooperates with Russian military intelligence.
“To track coordinates for air strikes, the agent walked around the area and marked on Google Maps the locations of sites which, in her view, could be used by Ukrainian defenders. For cover, she pretended to be walking dogs borrowed from acquaintances. She also regularly changed her clothing and behaviour. The collected intelligence in the form of photos, videos and electronic geolocations was transmitted to her handler via a messenger. SBU officers detained the agent red-handed while she was carrying out additional reconnaissance near a restricted facility,” the statement said.
During searches, a smartphone containing a prepared agent report for Russia’s GRU was seized from the woman. The device also contained her posts on Telegram in which she justified Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Investigators of the Security Service informed the agent of suspicion under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law);
- Part 2 of Article 436 (justification of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine);
- Part 1 of Article 161 (violation of equality of citizens).
The suspect is being held in custody without the right to post bail. She faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Earlier, a Russian agent was sentenced to 15 years in prison for adjusting attacks on Ukrainian Armed Forces airfields.
The SBU has also uncovered a Russian agent network that was preparing terrorist attacks using teenagers.
