The SSU Counterintelligence has detained an enemy accomplice who worked for the military-industrial complex of russia in Kharkiv.

It was a 72-year-old mechanical scientist who, on the order of the ruscists, developed drawings for the improvement of Shahed-type kamikaze drones. In particular, he worked on modernizing engines and catapult systems.

According to the investigation, the defendant remotely transferred the technological developments to his friend, the CEO of one of the russian machine-building plants that produces units for drones.

Since 2023, this enterprise has been working closely with russian company that manufactures Shahed-type attack drones, which the ruscists label as ‘Geran-2’.

The Kharkiv resident used electronic mail and a popular messenger to communicate with his russian accomplices. At the same time, he masked cooperation with the occupiers under the guise of preparing scientific papers in the field of UAVs.

As the investigation revealed, the scientist involved in the project work his former student, who had escaped from Kharkiv region to russia at the beginning of the full-scale war.

There, he applied for a job at the Moscow Technological University, where he designs drones for the russian armed forces.

The SSU Counterintelligence documented the crimes of the Kharkiv scientist and detained him at his place of residence in the regional centre.

During the searches, SSU officers seized computer equipment, a mobile phone and flash drives with evidence of subversive activities in favor of russia.

The SSU investigators served the detainee a notice of suspicion under Part 1 Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding the aggressor state).

The offender is in custody. He faces 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In addition, there are plans to serve a notice of suspicion in absentia to the offender's accomplice, a former student of Kharkiv University, who is hiding in russia.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office.