The Security Service, in cooperation with the Government and the management of one of Kharkiv's strategic plants, thwarted an attempt by Russian agents to obtain advanced Ukrainian technological developments in the fuel and energy sector.

As a result of the special operation in the Kharkiv region, an espionage group attempting to transfer secret documentation from a local strategic plant to Russia was neutralized.

Among those detained are the head of the design bureau and the deputy head of the industrial plant workshop.

According to the investigation, the he was interested in schemes, drawings, and instructions for the production of steam turbines and their components.

Such turbines are not manufactured in Russia, and before the Russian aggression against Ukraine, they were continuously purchased from the Kharkiv plant.

The existing aggregates in Russia have almost exhausted their resource and urgently need replacement or major repairs.

Therefore, the scientific and technical achievements of our state were needed by the aggressor to ensure the uninterrupted operation of steam units at Rosatom facilities. Also, for the modernization of Russian TPPs and HPPs to continue uninterrupted electricity supply, including to military-industrial complex plants in Russia.

As the investigation established, the head of the Russian intelligence espionage group was a resident of Kharkiv, a former business partner of the local plant.

At the direction of the Russian forces, their accomplices were to steal the "necessary" documents, digitize them, and electronically transfer them to Russia.

During searches at the places of residence and work of the defendants, technical documentation, phones, laptops, tablets, and flash drives with evidence of crimes were seized.

In addition, over 5 million in hryvnia equivalent was found on the organizer of the espionage group, which he presumably received for cooperation with the aggressor.

Currently, the Security Service investigators have informed the defendants of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (state treason committed in conditions of martial law by a group of persons by prior conspiracy).

The detainees are in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment.

The investigation continues to bring to justice all persons involved in the activities of Russian espionage.

The special operation was conducted by the Security Service operatives in the Kharkiv region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.