In Odesa, the SSU Military Counterintelligence and the State Bureau of Investigations have neutralized an operational and combat cell of the russian military intelligence. As a result of a special operation, the head of the group and his ‘right hand man’ were detained.

More than 70 firearms with optical sights and ammunition, as well as body armor, helmets, ballistic goggles and other tactical equipment were seized from them.

At the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, the members of the cell were preparing to seize government buildings in Odesa region by force, following the orders of the russian GRU. They were also supposed to attack the Defense Forces from the rear if the occupiers approached the port city.

After the failures of the ruscists at the front, the team was put on standby and was activated only in the summer of 2024, when it received new assignments.

The SSU thwarted the enemy’s plans: the sabotage was documented, and the network was neutralized immediately after it was activated.

According to the investigation, the head of the agent group is a 49-year-old native of the temporarily occupied Crimea.

After the seizure of the peninsula, he moved to Odesa. There, at the beginning of the full-scale war, he began to form operational and combat units under the cover of several NGO’s.

For the public, the NGOs were ‘dedicated to the issues of military history, ecology and jurisprudence’. In reality, the organizations set up underground teams: snipers, intelligence, communications, operational support and the main one – the assault group.

While selecting candidates, the traitors preferred individuals with special skills, combat experience, or narrowly specialized specialists.

If Odesa was captured, the participants of group were promised ‘positions’ in russian occupation administration.

In total, they recruited more than two dozen people to the enemy group, who were subordinate to their leader according to military hierarchy principles. All of them are now under investigation. Efforts are underway to bring them to justice for crimes against Ukraine.

During the searches, the SSU also seized instructions on sabotage activities, cold steel weapons, including ones with the russian intelligence services’ logos, and computer equipment with evidence of the crimes.

SSU investigators served the detained individuals notices of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2,109.1 (actions aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or seizure of state power, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 260.1, 260.3 (creation of unlawful paramilitary or armed groups).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out jointly with the SSU Odesa Office under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.