Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine uncovered a covert group linked to the Russian FSB engaged in reconnaissance and subversive activities in the Odessa region. Among other things, the individuals involved leaked coordinates of objects in the railway infrastructure, the strikes on which were intended to partially disrupt train movement in the region.
According to the investigation, the "leader" of the covert group was an Odessa resident, an instructor in hand-to-hand and knife combat, and one of the activists of the Odessa "Anti-Maidan" movement. The man personally maintained contact with representatives of Russian special services. He also involved his close relative in illegal activities.
At the direction of the FSB, the individuals were tasked with photographing and sending coordinates of objects in the railway infrastructure of Odessa.
The Russian operatives planned to use this information to destroy the data on the locations, which would have disrupted the movement of train parts.
Additionally, the FSB involved these individuals in information subversion activities against Ukraine.
According to the investigation, the "leader" of the covert group personally administered a group of supporters of the so-called "Novorossiya" in one of the social networks. There, he organized fundraising for militants of the terrorist organizations "L/DPR."
Furthermore, the individual created and disseminated materials on the Internet calling for the seizure of power and changes to the territory of Ukraine. Among other methods, he did this through the resource novorus.info - the so-called "central information agency of Novorossiya."
The SSU systematically documented the reconnaissance and subversive activities of Russian agents and apprehended them.
During searches at the suspects' locations, law enforcement officers found computer equipment, electronic storage devices, and communication tools containing evidence of criminal activities.
His relative is suspected under Article 114-2 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized dissemination of information about the direction, movement of weapons, armaments, and ammunition into Ukraine, movement, transfer, or deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine).
The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and to hold those responsible accountable.
