The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) neutralized an agent group of the Russian military intelligence (GRU) operating in Kharkiv.
The perpetrators were setting up hideouts with money and hand grenades on the outskirts of the city. In this way, the suspects planned to create a "reserve" for other Russian agents and saboteurs for subversive activities in the region.
According to instructions from the Russian military intelligence, the criminals mostly made the hideouts in forested areas, and then sent the coordinates of the caches to their Russian handler via messenger.
In addition, the agents were gathering intelligence on the locations of the Defense Forces' bases. They were scouting areas in and around Kharkiv, conducting reconnaissance based on the coordinates received from the Russians.
According to the investigation, the agent group consisted of two former members of the disbanded special police unit "Berkut" and the wife of one of them—all residents of Kharkiv.
The group came to the attention of the aggressor due to the former "Berkut" officer, who fled to Russia before the full-scale war and began working for the Russian forces.
SSU counterintelligence uncovered the agent group in advance, documented their crimes, and arrested all three members in Kharkiv.
During searches, mobile phones with evidence of cooperation with the Russian GRU and RGD-5 hand grenades were seized.
The perpetrators are in custody and face life imprisonment with asset confiscation.
