Since the full-scale invasion started, the Security Service of Ukraine has significantly strengthened its counterintelligence capabilities in order to outplay russian intelligence services.

The Head of the SSU Vasyl Maliuk said this in an interview with the ICTV channel during the United News telethon.

‘I would not underestimate the enemy, but we have outplayed them in all key areas. The SSU has become a fighting security service of a country at war,’ Vasyl Maliuk said.

Last year alone, the SSU dismantled 47 russian intelligence networks, including those involving certain members of parliament and representatives of the Defence Forces.

Vasyl Maliuk stressed that only 20% of the SSU’s counterintelligence activities are aimed at uncovering agent networks and carrying out procedural actions within pre-trial investigations.

Much more effort is needed to conduct multi-stage counterintelligence ‘games’, infiltrate double agents, conduct active counterintelligence measures, etc.

Vasyl Maliuk gave example of when the SSU detained a group of young men in Kyiv region who were taking drone operator courses and preparing sabotage to destroy a Patriot air defence system, following the FSB’s instructions. Another example is the dismantling of a network in Odesa region that collected and passed information to the enemy for missile attacks. Its ‘supervisor’ was lured from Transnistria to Ukraine and detained, and is now giving incriminating evidence against other members.

Vasyl Maliuk also spoke about uncovering an agent network that included representatives of the intelligence community – former employees of the Defence Intelligence, Foreign Intelligence Service and a then serving SSU officer.

The SSU Head added that the fact that there had been no leaks of information on operations planning in the past year proves the effectiveness of the cleansing of the Service itself.

The Defence Forces military command supports the SSU’s counterintelligence efforts to prevent potential moles and intelligence leaks in the army.