The SSU Counterintelligence exposed russian special services on recruitment of a former employee of a state enterprise of the State Administration of Affairs that services state formal events Guarantor Service, who was involved in organizing events with participation of the leadership of Ukraine’s Parliament and foreign delegations.

The official was persuaded to cooperate by a serving member of the FSB during a trip to the temporarily occupied Crimea before russia’s full-scale invasion.

Following his handler’s instructions, the agent was supposed to collect intelligence on the visits of foreign delegations to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, in particular members of such delegations and content of formal and informal conversations.

In addition, he was instructed to find out if it is possible to install special technical devices for covert gathering of information in the parliament’s  halls and lobbies.

For this, the official had to use his official powers – clearance and access to various premises of the building.

However, when russia began its full-scale aggression, he resigned from the state enterprise and did not fulfill any of the occupiers’ assignments.

Subsequently, the agent tried to get a job at a strategic facility in Zhytomyr region. At that stage, he was screened, and the SSU discovered that he had been recruited. The agent himself admitted the fact and voluntarily spoke in detail about the tasks russian special services gave him.

Criminal proceedings were opened under Article 111 of the CCU (treason). The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Zhytomyr region has been working on the case under the procedural supervision of Zhytomyr Region Prosecutor’s Office.

The SSU reminds that according to Article 111 of the CCU, treason under martial law is punishable by 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.

However, citizens of Ukraine are exempt from criminal liability if they did not take any actions to fulfill a criminal task and voluntarily informed state authorities on facts of involvement in confidential cooperation with the enemy.