SSU detains IT specialist who recruited spotters for Russian intelligence

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine.

The detainee, an IT specialist from the Cherkasy region, created new recruitment channels for Russian intelligence aimed at Ukrainian residents.

According to the case materials, he registered mobile numbers of Ukrainian telecom operators to create fake social media accounts.

The ready-made accounts were then handed over to Russian intelligence services to conduct recruitment operations posing as Ukrainian citizens.

At the same time, the agent opened online bank accounts in the names of front persons, which the Russians planned to use to covertly finance their agent networks.

To do this, he searched for drug-dependent and unemployed individuals who, for a one-time payment, agreed to provide their banking details.

He also personally selected potential recruitment targets and passed their contact information to the FSB.

SSU counterintelligence documented how the suspect helped Russian intelligence reach an unemployed resident of the Rivne region.

On Russian orders, the new agent was used to adjust air strikes on western Ukraine. He marked the locations of Ukrainian Defense Forces on Google Maps and sent them to his FSB handler via messenger.

SSU officers uncovered the spotter at an early stage of his intelligence activity and detained him at his residence.

The agent was detained simultaneously at his own home.

During searches, smartphones and computer equipment containing evidence of cooperation with the enemy were seized from both suspects.

SSU investigators have notified them of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high 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.

As reported by Ukrinform, SSU counterintelligence also detained an FSB agent in the Cherkasy region who was directing Russian missile and drone strikes on the region’s energy infrastructure.

Photo: SSU