Main image: Photo of the night attack on Kropyvnytskyi — massive fires across the city caused by the impact of 20 Shahed drones
The Security Service detained a Russian agent in the Kirovohrad region who was preparing coordinates for a Russian airstrike on the regional center on July 28 this year.
During that attack, Russian strikes damaged the buildings of the regional philharmonic, the local university, and residential houses in the city center.
According to case materials, the Russian airstrike was one of the largest since the start of the full-scale war. The Russian forces used Shahed-type kamikaze drones aimed at civilian infrastructure targets in Kropyvnytskyi based on guidance from the FSB agent.
The investigation revealed the suspect is a 47-year-old local unemployed man who came to the attention due to his pro-Kremlin comments in Telegram channels.
After recruitment, he was tasked by his FSB handler to collect specific geolocations for the drone strike on the city.
After the attack on the regional center, the suspect “reported” the results to the Russian intelligence officer to help adjust repeated strikes and prepare new attacks. Simultaneously, the agent monitored the movement routes of Defense Forces’ freight trains through the region for the Russian forces.
SSU cyber specialists detained the offender “in the act” while he was setting up a “video trap” near a railway facility. At the scene, his phone was seized, containing evidence of contacts with the FSB.
SSU investigators charged the detainee under Part 2, Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (state treason committed under martial law). The offender is in custody and faces life imprisonment with property confiscation.
