During a multi-stage special operation, the SSU detained a militant from the Wagner group, who was sent to Ukraine by the russian military intelligence service (aka the GRU) to carry out sabotage.

The perpetrator was instructed to cross from belarus to Rivne region to adjust russian air attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The SSU uncovered the aggressor’s plans when the agent was still in belarus.

The Service had documented his criminal actions from the moment he crossed the state border to the arrival at the site of supposed sabotage in Ukraine.

As a result, the suspect was detained ‘red-handed’ when he tried to mount several GPS trackers on the power lines that supply Kyiv region.

The occupiers planned to use the trackers’ signals to target energy facilities, including with Shahed kamikaze drones.

According to the investigation, the detainee is a belarusian citizen, an agent of russia’s GRU.

From 2014 to 2017, the foreign national was a member of the ‘lnr/dnr’ terrorist groups and participated in warfare against the ATO forces in eastern Ukraine.

At the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion, the militant joined the Wagner PMC and stormed Bakhmut and neighboring villages.

Later, he returned to belarus and received an assignment from his GRU handler to prepare sabotage in Ukraine’s border territory.

Based on the collected evidence, the detainee is to be served a notice of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 113 (sabotage);
• 258-3.1 (participation in a terrorist group or terrorist organization).

The operation was carried out jointly with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine under the procedural supervision of regional Prosecutor’s Office.