SSU dismantles largest enemy agent network specializing in ‘hunting’ for F-16 in Ukraine (video)

The SSU Military Counterintelligence has neutralized a large agent network of the GRU (the main directorate of the general staff of the russian armed forces). The cell was spying on the Defence Forces in five regions of Ukraine.

As a result of the operation, 12 enemy agents and their informants have been exposed. Some of them are deserters who had left the Armed Forces of Ukraine without permission and were recruited by the russian military intelligence while hiding from justice.

The members of the network acted separately from each other and were linked to the resident (head) of the group. He was located in Dnipropetrovsk region. For secrecy, the man was using fake ‘cover documents’ – a fake ID of a ‘volunteer’ and of an ‘anti-corruption activist’.

He involved accomplices from Zaporizhzhia, as well as Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, in cooperation with the aggressor state.

In these regions, the agents reconnoitered firing positions of Ukrainian air defence systems and tried to identify locations of secret military airfields where, according to the ruscists, F-16 aircraft could be based.

A separate task of the network was to establish the addresses of companies involved in the production of electronic warfare equipment used against russian drones.

To obtain intelligence, the traitors used their acquaintances, including Ukrainian military personnel stationed in the frontline regions of Ukraine, trying to elicit information from them.

After receiving preliminary data, the assets went out to the area to conduct additional reconnaissance near potential targets.

First, the members of the agent group reported to the resident, and then he passed the intelligence to his russian handler.

The SSU Military Counterintelligence uncovered the entire cell at an early stage, detained its organizer and 4 key accomplices.

During the searches, the SSU seized mobile phones, flash drives, military documents and forged IDs.

SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion (in accordance with the crimes committed) under two Articles of the CCU:

  • 111.2 (high treason, committed under martial law);
  • 114-2.2 (unauthorized dissemination of information on the movement, transfer or location of the AFU).

Efforts are underway to bring to justice other members of the enemy agent network. The suspects face 8 years in prison to life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Military Counterintelligence together with the investigators of the SSU Dnipropetrovsk Office under the procedural supervision of Dnipro Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Office of the Eastern Region.