The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented new attempts by Russia to obtain up-to-date data on the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk region.
During counterintelligence measures, a Russian informant tracking the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kramatorsk district was detained. This individual received the task from the Russian private military company Wagner Group, which is currently part of the regular forces of the aggressor country. Upon the instructions of the occupiers, the suspect was supposed to identify and pass on precise coordinates of the airfields where Ukrainian military helicopters are based.
The Wagner Group also sought information on the deployment locations of personnel and heavy weaponry of the Ukrainian forces defending the district center. In case of obtaining reconnaissance data, the aggressors planned to use them to prepare combat operations in the Kramatorsk and Slovyansk directions.
However, thanks to the SSU, the Russian informant was timely exposed. According to the investigation, the accomplice of the aggressor is a local resident and an ideological supporter of the Kremlin regime. In the fall of 2023, he agreed to work for the occupiers, who remotely contacted him through his acquaintance, a Russian woman. The woman, in turn, "worked" for a member of the occupation group Wagner Group. The informant communicated with her through a messenger, observing conspiracy measures. For example, the suspect regularly deleted all messages after ending communication sessions with the Russian woman. It is documented that for gathering intelligence, the perpetrator walked around the area and covertly recorded video of the surrounding territory under the guise of a walk.
During the search, the suspect's mobile phone with evidence of reconnaissance and subversive activities in favor of Russia was seized.
The SSU investigators informed the detainee of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized dissemination of information about the direction, movement of weapons, armament, and ammunition to Ukraine, movement, or deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine).
Currently, he is in custody and faces up to 8 years in prison.
