An IT specialist who worked for Russian intelligence agencies has been detained in the Cherkasy region
The Security Service of Ukraine reported the arrest of an IT specialist who, on behalf of Russia’s FSB, was involved in recruiting spotters.
The SBU’s official statement contains the following information:
The Security Service has detained two more FSB agents. One of them is an IT specialist from the Cherkasy region who created new channels for the enemy to recruit local residents.
According to the case file, he registered mobile numbers from Ukrainian carriers to create fake accounts on social media.
The suspect transferred the ready-made accounts to the Russian special services to conduct recruitment operations allegedly on behalf of Ukrainian citizens.
At the same time, the agent opened online accounts under the names of straw men, which the Russians planned to use for covertly financing their intelligence networks.
To do this, he sought out drug addicts and unemployed individuals who, in exchange for a one-time cash payment, agreed to provide him with their personal information.
The IT specialist also personally selected potential “candidates” for recruitment and passed their contact information to the FSB.
SBU counterintelligence officers documented how the suspect helped the Russian special service “approach” an unemployed resident of the Rivne region.
Following orders from the Russians, the “newly recruited” agent coordinated Russian airstrikes on the western region of Ukraine.
To carry out the hostile mission, he marked the geolocations of the Defense Forces on Google Maps and sent them via messenger to his FSB handler.
SBU officers exposed the enemy spotter at the initial stage of his espionage activities and detained him at his residence.
At the same time, an IT specialist acting as an agent was detained at his residence. During searches of both suspects’ premises, smartphones and computer equipment containing evidence of their work for the enemy were seized.
SBU investigators informed the detainees of their suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (treason committed under martial law).
The suspects are being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Comprehensive operations were conducted by SBU officers in the Cherkasy and Rivne regions under the procedural guidance of the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
As a reminder, Russian agents who were setting fires in cities were exposed in Dnipro and Odesa.
As a reminder, the SBU detained a Russian strike coordinator in Chernivtsi.
The SBU also exposed a Russian spy network that was planning terrorist attacks using teenagers.
