Russian Intelligence recruits Kharkiv resident through dating chat to leak information on Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Security Service of Ukraine has thwarted new attempts by Russian intelligence to obtain strategically important information about the defense of Kharkiv.

According to available data, the aggressor was preparing new missile and drone strikes as well as the breakthrough of sabotage and reconnaissance groups into the northern outskirts of the city.

To gather intelligence, the Russian forces enlisted an informant – an ideological supporter of Russian imperialism living in the suburbs of the regional center. It was established that they recruited the man through a popular dating chat in the Telegram messenger.

There, a female contact from the Russian intelligence service, posing as an ordinary Russian citizen, offered the Kharkiv region resident a romantic relationship.

After he took the bait, the woman gradually involved him in espionage and subversive activities.

Following her instructions, the informant scouted northern areas of the Kharkiv district, secretly recording locations with the highest concentration of Defense Forces personnel.

SSU officers caught the informant in the act while he was photographing the special transport of Ukrainian soldiers.

At the scene, they seized a phone that the suspect used for communicating with his Russian "girlfriend" and for photographing military objects.

Currently, SSU investigators have charged the detainee under Part 2 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized dissemination of information about the movement or location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations created in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, committed under martial law).

The suspect is in custody and faces up to 8 years in prison.