The SBU military counterintelligence uncovered Russian agent who planned to enlist in a combat brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

SBU established that a Russian citizen in 2018 was caught in a compromising position. While in custody, FSB officers used physical violence and psychological pressure in order to recruit him.

After a while, he received a task to enlist in the Ukrainian Army and FSB helped him to come to Ukraine. The offender crossed the state border avoiding a check-point and obtained refugee status.

For a year, the Russian analyzed the situation within military units involved in the combat missions of the Joint Forces Operation. To this end, he visited various regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In places of permanent and temporary deployment of military units, the agent established contacts with some servicemen.

As a result, he collected the necessary documents, some of them were forged, and referred to alleged harassment by Russian law enforcement bodies.

In 2019, he submitted documents for enlisting to military service to a combat brigade of Ukrainian Ground Forces, basing on the norms of the President Decree “On Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Foreigners and Stateless Persons”.

In Ukraine, he used secure communication channels in order to coordinate actions with Russian intelligence.

Counterintelligence officers prevented intelligence activities of the Russian special services within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Type of detention to the detainee was chosen.

The SBU reminds that a crime committed by a foreigner or stateless person and stipulated by P.1 of Art. 114 (Espionage) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is punishable by imprisonment up to 15 years.

The crime stipulated by P.1 of Art 330 (Transfer or gathering of information collected during operative actions, counterintelligence actions in defense sphere of the state) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is punishable by imprisonment up to five years.

In accordance with the provisions of the Part 2 Article 114 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, a person is released from criminal liability if they stopped the activity stipulated by P.1 of Art. 114 and voluntarily reported to state authorities about the actions, if as a result of the measures taken the damage to Ukraine's interests was prevented.