The SSU Counterintelligence has conducted a multi-stage special operation to expose and detain an FSB agent who was gathering information on deployment and movement of Ukrainian Defence Forces near the southern front.

He also collected data on the impact of enemy shelling of civilian and critical infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia.

In case the city is captured, the aggressor state promised the agent a leadership ‘position’ in the occupation administration.

The informant himself planned to join the so-called ‘firing squads’ of the occupation forces to torture and kill Ukrainian defenders, including fighters of local volunteer formations.

It was established that the traitor had been recruited by a serving officer of the FSB’s 5th service to carry out reconnaissance and subversive activities in the front-line territories of the region.

Primarily, the russian special service was interested in information on location of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, number of personnel and equipment, consequences of missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia.

To pass information, the agent used a secure, anonymous Telegram channel. In the messages, he described his observations and added confirming photos of the sites.

The occupiers used the obtained data to adjust strikes on Zaporizhzhia and plan sabotage activities.

For fulfilling enemy’s assignments, the informant received payments from his handler by electronic transfer.

During the searches of the suspect’s home, investigators found:

• mobile phones that were used for communication with the russian ‘coordinator’;
• the bank card to which money from the FSB was received.

The detainee has been notified of suspicion of treason committed under martial law. The court has decided to keep the suspect in custody.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Counterintelligence Department and the SSU Offices in Rivne and Zaporizhzhia regions under the procedural supervision of Rivne Region Prosecutor’s Office.