The Security Service of Ukraine has detained one of russia’s most covert ‘sleeper’ agents in Kherson. The russian intelligence services recruited the man at the very beginning of the full-scale invasion but kept him in ‘standby mode’ until he was needed.

The suspect is a former aircraft technician who served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Army Aviation. He left the military in 2018 and joined the FSB’s intelligence network during russia’s occupation of Kherson in 2022.

After Ukrainian forces liberated the right bank of the Kherson region, the russian intelligence left their agent in the city, where he remained dormant for an extended period.

According to the investigation, the agent was considered so valuable by his russian handlers that, before leaving Kherson, they enrolled him in the ‘Combat Brotherhood’, a civil society organisation under russian control, and provided him with a firearm.

The ruscists later activated the asset and instructed him to identify and monitor the positions of Ukrainian defenders in Kherson. The intelligence was intended to support russian strikes using guided aerial bombs, drones and rocket artillery.

To carry out his tasks, the perpetrator used his knowledge of the area and previous military experience. He drove around Kherson in his own car, identified defensive positions and marked them on a topographical map.

He also photographed potential targets on his mobile phone and prepared the information for transmission to his FSB handler.

The SSU Counterintelligence identified the agent and detained him red-handed while he was preparing to provide the intelligence to his handler following another reconnaissance mission.

During searches, investigators seized a mobile phone containing evidence of his cooperation with the enemy, a rifle issued by the russian side, and pro-kremlin symbols.

SSU investigators notified the detainee of his status as a suspect under Article 111.2 of the CCU – high treason, committed under martial law. The case has been submitted to court.

The suspect is in custody without bail, facing life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in the Kherson region under the procedural supervision of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office.