The SSU Military Counterintelligence, under the personal coordination of the SSU Acting Head Oleksandr Poklad, has neutralised a large-scale spy network run by russian military intelligence (‘the GRU’). The aggressor state could have used the intelligence provided by the cell to launch missile strikes against Ukrainian Armed Forces airbases.

The investigation revealed that the activities of the agents were aiding the enemy in planning and conducting attacks on Ukrainian military airfields housing F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

The group consisted of 14 individuals residing in several regions of Ukraine.

‘Countering russian intelligence services, which seek to destabilise the situation in Ukraine from within, is one of the SSU’s top priorities today. We are strengthening our counterintelligence measures as we understand that the adversary is attempting to undermine our state’s defence capabilities and destabilise the Ukrainian rear after failing to achieve any notable successes on the front line. This operation is yet another example of our systematic work in this area. Anyone who agrees to work in russia’s interests should be aware that the Security Service will certainly hold them to account,’ said Oleksandr Poklad, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine.

It has been established that the GRU initially recruited a resident of Lviv who administered a Telegram channel about aviation. He came to russia’s attention when he posted photographs of Ukrainian Armed Forces combat aircraft in pro-kremlin chat rooms.

In order to carry out the enemy’s task, the agent enlisted 13 of his subscribers who possessed high-quality photographic equipment and lived near the Defence Forces’ aviation infrastructure, without their knowledge.

They were tasked with photographing Ukrainian airfields, military aircraft and their crews and technical staff, as well as recording take-off and landing times, ostensibly for the Lviv-based blogger’s Telegram channel.

To accomplish this, the individuals used professional cameras with which they could hide in abandoned buildings or open terrain near air bases.

The photographs were stored in an online repository to which the agent had granted them advance access. He then passed the photographic material on to his handler in russia, whose identity has been established by the SSU.

The agent also leaked flight schedules for combat helicopters to the russians. This intelligence was obtained from the commander of a Ukrainian Armed Forces aviation squadron, who provided it of his own accord.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes, smartphones and digital photographic equipment containing evidence of working for the enemy were found, as well as photographs of the Defence Forces’ aviation facilities.

In addition, the SSU blocked four channels and ten thematic groups on Telegram where photographs and other data on the Armed Forces’ aviation units were being disseminated.

SSU investigators have notified the detained agent, his accomplice, and the military officer that they are suspected of committing crimes against the foundations of national security.

The investigation is ongoing in order to bring all those responsible to justice.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Military Counterintelligence, under the procedural supervision of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

The Security Service of Ukraine urges citizens to remain vigilant. If you are approached with dubious proposals, see suspicious objects or individuals, or have information about the activities of russian intelligence services or the websites and social media pages they use for recruitment, please report this to the SSU:

• The Burn the FSB-man chatbot – t.me/spaly_fsb_bot
• Tel.: 1516
• Email: callcenter@ssu.gov.ua