The SSU has neutralized an FSB agent group in Kherson. As a result of the special operation, three members of the enemy cell were detained in the city, who acted separately from each other but were controlled by a handler from russia.

The handler is a russian, Oleksandr Kostin, the so called ‘first deputy minister of information policy’ in the temporarily occupied left bank of Kherson region.

In addition to functioning as the kremlin's mouthpiece, the ‘authority’ tried to fulfill the FSB’s task to set up agent networks in Kherson.

To do this, Kostin engaged two of his subordinates from the occupation ‘ministry of information policy’ as residents (heads) of the agent network.

They remotely recruited three residents of Kherson. One of them worked for the aggressor during the occupation of the city, and after the liberation of the community went into hiding.

Following the instructions, the assets reconnoitered the locations of the Defense Forces in the regional center.

The ruscists needed the intelligence to prepare missile and drone strikes on the locations of Ukrainian defenders.

The enemy priority targets included the positions of mobile air defense firing groups, as well as deployment locations of the Security Service, National Police and Prosecutor’s Office.

In addition, russian agents spied on officials of the regional military administration. The FSB planned to use the intelligence to threaten them with physical violence.

The traitors planned to involve more ‘like-minded people’ from the right-bank part of the region.

They created a Telegram channel on behalf of the pro-russian underground in the regional center. The administrators of the hostile Internet resource called on potential participants to ‘leak’ the coordinates of the Defense Forces and personal information about Ukrainian defenders.

However, the SSU thwarted the FSB’s plans.

During the searches, the law enforcement seized mobile phones and computer equipment with evidence of criminal actions.

SSU investigators notified the detained of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 111.2 (high treason, committed under martial law);
• 114-2.2 (unauthorized dissemination of information on the movement or location of the AFU committed under martial law).

The suspects are in custody and face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Kostin was charged in absentia under Article 110.3 of the CCU (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine), and his two FSB accomplices were notified of suspicion in absentia of high treason committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy.

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