The SSU uncovered an FSB agent network that collected confidential information about Ukrainian intelligence and security services and law enforcement agencies, as well as Ukrainian officials and public figures of interest to the enemy.

The ruscists planned to use this information to eliminate, recruit and conduct information and psychological operations against Ukrainian officials.

The cell included two former bodyguards of the fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych and a current member of the National Guard.

The chief agent (resident) was 48-year-old Dmytro Ivantsov, a former head of unit in the State Protection Directorate who accompanied the fugitive president during his ‘evacuation’ to russia.

According to the investigation, he was recruited by Igor Yegorov, an officer of the Counterintelligence Operations Department of the FSB’s 1^st service before 2012.

After the occupation of the Crimea, Ivantsov betrayed his oath, took russian citizenship and joined the federal protection service of russia. He continued to actively work for the FSB.

In this ‘work’, he involved Roman Lapa, the former vice-head of Yanukovych’s security, who remained in the Crimea and works in Sevastopol.

The group also included a 46-year-old Kyiv resident, an active serviceman of the National Guard of Ukraine. At one time, he was Ivantsov’s driver, when he served in the State Protection Directorate of Ukraine.

The National Guard member used his law enforcement acquaintances to obtain information from departmental information systems and was supposed to look for people to recruit as assets.

In case of collecting such data, the traitor planned to transmit them to Ivantsov through pre-arranged communication channels.

The SSU documented the actions of each member of the network and detained the perpetrator operating in Kyiv.

During the searches, the investigators seized computer equipment, mobile phones and other material evidence of his cooperation with russia.

Based on the evidence, the SSU served him a notice of suspicion under Article 111.1 of the CCU (high treason).

The suspect is in custody and faces up to 15 years in prison.

The criminal actions of Dmytro Ivantsov and his accomplice in Crimea are qualified under Articles 28.2, 111.1, 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law, upon prior conspiracy, by a group of persons).

It has been established that Ivantsov had handed over to the FSB the secret plans of action in case of a threat to the President’s life, which he had from his time in the protection directorate.

The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Main Investigation Directorate, the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region together with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.