Based on the evidence collected by the Security Service of Ukraine, an enemy agent who, on the orders of russia’s federal security service, attempted to assassinate a serviceman of the Ukrainian Air Assault Troops in Zaporizhzhia has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property.

Due to the SSU’s proactive work, a sergeant from the Air Assault Troops’ reconnaissance platoon – who had taken part in crucial operations by the Defence Forces on the front line and behind enemy lines – was saved. The hitman, meanwhile, received a prison sentence.

As the investigation revealed, the perpetrator was to plant an improvised explosive device in the flat rented from him by the serviceman who was on rotation after a mission on the southern front.

After planting the bomb, the agent was to inform the russian intelligence services that the attack was ready to go, so that they could remotely detonate the device whilst the soldier was inside the flat.

The SSU acted pre-emptively and detained the traitor in November 2025 in Zaporizhzhia, when he purchased components for assembling the IED.

As has been established, russia’s task was carried out by an occupational health and safety engineer at a local medical facility who had been recruited by the FSB.

He came to their attention through a former colleague who is currently in the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol and is collaborating with the aggressor state.

The agent initially recorded the geolocations of operational energy facilities in the frontline city to prepare a new series of russia’s missile, bomb and drone attacks.

He informed his FSB handler about his lodger – a paratrooper who had arrived from the front line.

The agent was subsequently instructed by the russian service to eliminate the Ukrainian soldier. To make the bomb, the traitor purchased materials and was due to receive the coordinates from his russian handler of a cache containing explosives.

During the searches of the suspect’s premises, components for a bomb were seized, along with a smartphone and computer equipment containing evidence of his crimes.

Based on evidence, the court found the accused guilty under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law).

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