As a result of a counter-sabotage operation in Kirovohrad oblast, the SSU detained an agent of russia’s FSB, who was preparing new air strikes on aviation infrastructure in the area.

This was the assignment the enemy accomplice got from his russian handler. The latter is a serving officer of the FSB’s 5^th service and is currently in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

To carry out the enemy’s instructions, the spy collected information on technical condition of Ukrainian airfields and possible presence of combat aircraft and ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The agent tried to identify firing positions of the air defence systems near Ukrainian aviation facilities.

The russian special service also wanted to find out through its asset the total number of possible hits on the airfield infrastructure in the oblast.

The man received cryptocurrency from the FSB for ‘operating expenses’. The total amount received was about UAH 10,000 (USD 267).

The occupiers planned to use the intelligence from the agent to launch new air attacks on the Defence Forces infrastructure.

However, the SSU worked proactively and apprehended the suspect red-handed when he was shooting a video of the territory of the AFU’s military unit.

During detention, the SSU seized a mobile phone which the agent used to record targets and contact the FSB.

According to the investigation, the detained individual is a resident of Kropyvnytskyi, recruited by the russian special service earlier this year.

He came to the aggressor’s attention because of his anti-Ukrainian posts in one of the pro-kremlin Telegram channels.

The traitor communicated with the aggressor via a messenger app and used a special ‘identification’ code before each messaging session.

Based on the collected evidence, the spy was served a notice of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU - high treason committed under martial law. He is currently in custody, facing life imprisonment.

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