In Kharkiv region, the SSU detained an agent of russian military intelligence who was spying on the military echelons of Ukraine’s Defence Forces.

The perpetrator is an assistant locomotive engineer of a regional branch of Ukrzaliznytsia [Ukrainian Railways], who was recruited remotely by an officer of the 78^th intelligence centre of the main directorate of the general staff of the russian armed forces (‘the GRU’).

On the GRU’s instructions, the agent collected information on railway routes used by the AFU to transport heavy weapons and ammunition to the front line.

Being in the locomotive cab, the traitor covertly recorded the direction of movement of trains with Ukrainian weapons.

The occupiers planned to use the intelligence to prepare missile and drone strikes on the railway infrastructure.

In this way, the ruscists hoped to disrupt the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukrainian defenders.

The SSU Counterintelligence foiled the invaders’ plans and detained the suspect when he tried to pass a report to the aggressor.

The investigation also established that the asset had tried to identify locations of fortifications of Kharkiv defenders.

The GRU ‘noticed’ the railway worker as he was an active user of pro-kremlin Telegram channels and posted there his anti-Ukrainian comments.

During the searches of the railway carriage where he worked and his apartment, the SSU seized mobile phones and SIM cards with evidence of the crime.

SSU investigators served the detainee a notice of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law).

The suspect is in custody and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

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