The SSU has thwarted an attempt by the FSB to obtain geolocations of relocated plants of Zaporizhzhia region’s defence industry.

The enemy was interested in the coordinates of the workshops of Motor Sich PJSC and another machine-building plant that produce components for Ukrainian military aviation.

The aggressor needed the locations of design bureaus and production facilities which had been relocated after the full-scale invasion and where aircraft engines for combat helicopters and UAVs are manufactured.

To this end, the russian intelligence service engaged its agent, a machine tool mechanic at one of Motor Sich’s facilities.

On the enemy instructions, the ‘mole’ walked around the territory of the enterprise and recorded locations of production workshops and warehouses with finished products.

He then marked the ‘right’ locations on Google maps in order to further send them to the FSB.

The asset was preparing to provide the data to the aggressor through his brother, an unemployed local resident, who was in direct contact with an officer of the russian service.

In case of receiving the information, the occupiers planned to carry out targeted missile attacks on Zaporizhzhia’s defence facilities.

However, the SSU Counterintelligence uncovered both traitors and detained them ‘red-handed’ when they were preparing a communication session to transfer the data to the FSB.

The SSU also took action to protect Ukraine’s defence industry facilities.

According to the investigation, both men came to the enemy’s attention through their father, an ideological ruscist living in the temporarily occupied part of the region.

After remote recruitment, the agents were brought into direct contact with an FSB officer. Anonymous chats in a popular messenger app were used for communication.

The SSU has notified both detainees of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law).

The suspects are in custody and face life imprisonment.

The special operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Zaporizhzhia region under the procedural supervision of Zaporizhzhia Region Prosecutor’s Office.