The SSU Counterintelligence has exposed a sleeper agent of russia’s FSB who collected intelligence in the border area of Sumy oblast.

According to the investigation, the man was recruited before russia’s full-scale invasion. Until May 2022, he held the position of a deputy head of a local united territorial community.

When a part of Sumy region was occupied, the official left for russia through an enemy checkpoint. There, he met with his FSB handler, who instructed him to carry out reconnaissance and sabotage in Ukraine.

A few days later, the traitor returned to the border area, part of which was still occupied, and explained his disappearance by ‘being in russian captivity’.

On the FSB’s instructions, the community’s deputy head continued to collect information on locations and weapons of Ukrainian defenders in the area.

To cover more ground, the spy resigned from his position and got a job at a local agricultural company and, under the pretext of business trips, was gathering intelligence for the occupiers.

In particular, he identified the locations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard units, involved in the defence of Ukraine’s north-eastern borders.

Using his connections, the enemy asset also collected personal data of military unit commanders and local community leaders.

The obtained intelligence was transmitted to the aggressor’s service via an anonymous chat in a messenger app as media files with marks on electronic maps.

The SSU Counterintelligence apprehended the suspect on his attempt to transmit geolocation data of several Defence Forces units. A mobile phone, which he used to photograph targets and communicate with the FSB, was seized.

The occupiers needed the intelligence to prepare new air strikes and sabotage attacks in Sumy region.

The detained enemy accomplice has been notified of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law). The suspect is in custody, facing life imprisonment.

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