As a result of a multi-stage special operation in Khmelnytskyi region, the SSU exposed an activated sleeper agent of the fsb - a russian citizen who arrived in Ukraine in January 2022.

His cover was ‘visiting relatives’, but the real task was to create an extensive agent network for intelligence gathering and sabotage in the west of Ukraine.

The agent came to Ukraine on the personal instruction of the former chief of the Vityaz special forces squad of the national guard of russia colonel Sergei Lysiuk. This ex-commander of russian special forces is a member of the kremlin’s inner circle.

In case the front-line approaches Khmelnytskyi region, he promised to bring the asset out to the occupied territory through a ‘special corridor’.

According to the investigation, the spy is a former special forces officer of russian internal troops, who has repeatedly participated in military operations, including in the North Caucasus. There, he was an agent working for the fsb, but after retirement was put on standby and activated when transferred to Ukraine.

The SSU established that the spy had been supervised by a serving fsb officer, colonel Yevgeniy Petrushin with the call sign Gestapo.

In the past, Petrushin was training special forces, held the positions of deputy chief of the fsb directorate in Dagestan and ‘first deputy head of the kgb’ in the self-proclaimed Transnistria.

Under Petrushin’s coordination, the agent carried out reconnaissance of deployment and movement of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, collected information on the state of mobilization and functioning of strategic critical infrastructure in the region.

To do this, the perpetrator carried out covert surveillance and tried to establish ‘necessary’ contacts with locals.

For intelligence and subversive activities, the agent received money from his russian supervisors. Secure electronic communication channels were used for communication.

The SSU promptly located the spy, documented his actions and prevented the implementation of enemy plans.

SSU investigators notified him of suspicion of espionage (Article 114 of the CCU).

The investigation is underway.

The SSU Office in Khmelnytskyi Region carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of Khmelnytskyi Region Prosecutor’s Office.