In Kharkiv region, the SSU Counterintelligence detained an agent of russian military intelligence who had been hiding from prosecution for a long time.

In the first days of russia’s full-scale invasion, the perpetrator collected intelligence on locations and movements of Ukrainian troops that were defending Kharkiv.

He was particularly interested in information on firing positions of the AFU’s air defence systems.

This was valuable to the occupiers as their bombers could bypass Ukrainian air defences and strike the city.

Just before the area was liberated, the traitor went into hiding - he stopped communicating with the russian handers and almost never left his house on the outskirts of Kharkiv.

However, the SSU eventually tracked him down and detained him.

According to the investigation, the enemy agent is a local resident recruited by the russian military intelligence before the start of the full-scale invasion.

His close relative uses the call sign ‘Bagheera’ and is one of the commanders of the russian sabotage and reconnaissance unit Irbis. She was the asset’s liaison and passed the information to a GRU officer.

SSU investigators have served the detained enemy accomplice a notice of suspicion under Article 111.1 of the CCU (high treason).

The suspect is in custody and faces 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

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