SBU CI blocked the activities of Russia’s FSB intelligence network, which operated in Kherson region under the leadership of a former employee of the regional state administration.

SBU established that the citizen of Ukraine was recruited by an FSB officer during her stay in the temporarily occupied Crimea in 2015. Her task was to gather intelligence on military facilities and SBU personnel. The woman also had to study the socio-political situation in the southern region of the country, provide data on the activities of local government and administration, non-governmental international foundations and organizations, as well as certain politicians and public figures loyal to Russia.

The former official recruited other pro-Russian residents of Kherson to carry out FSB intelligence tasks. She transmitted intelligence through electronic channels pre-arranged with the curator, as well as during personal trips to Crimea and Moscow.

Urgent investigative actions are underway at the places of residence of the members of the intelligence network. During the searches, the law enforcement officers found evidence of conducting intelligence activities to the detriment of Ukraine's interests. They seized communication and computer equipment and electronic storage devices on which intelligence data was processed. Russian propaganda materials and Russian currency were also seized.

The head of the FSB agent network was detained in accordance with Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. She was served a notice of suspicion of treason (Part 1 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), and a form of detention was chosen.

The procedural status of other network accomplices will be determined upon the results of the investigation.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Kherson region.