The Security Service of Ukraine has thwarted new attempts by Russian military intelligence to obtain strategically important information about the Defense Forces in the northern part of the Kharkiv region.
The primary interest of the Russian forces was the geolocation of heavy artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which holds under fire control the assault groups of the occupiers attempting to capture Vovchansk. To obtain intelligence, the Russian special services involved their informant - a local entrepreneur.
Under the guise of resolving commercial issues, he traveled around the front-line area, covertly recording the coordinates of Ukrainian troops. The perpetrator also clandestinely used his colleagues and acquaintances, from whom he extracted "necessary" information during casual conversations. Subsequently, the offender synthesized the obtained information and dictated it in voice messages for Russian intelligence.
Reporting to the Russian forces, he detailed the location of Ukrainian defenders with reference to local landmarks. The aggressor planned to use the obtained intelligence for the preparation of aviation and missile strikes.
However, SSU operatives preemptively exposed the Russian informant and detained him. The Security Service also took additional measures to secure the positions of Ukrainian troops.
- Based on the evidence obtained, SSU investigators informed the detainee of the suspicion under Part 2 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized dissemination of information about the movement, motion, or location of the Armed Forces, if their identification is possible on the ground).
- The perpetrator is in custody and faces up to 8 years in prison.
