In the Zakarpattia region, an agent of the Russian GRU—a "mole" who spied on defense plants in western Ukraine—was detained; he passed the collected data to Russian military intelligence through his father, who lives in Kaliningrad, the SBU reported on Tuesday, UNN writes.
Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine detained an agent of Russian military intelligence (better known as the GRU) in Zakarpattia. He turned out to be an employee of a local plant recruited by the enemy, who spied on enterprises fulfilling defense orders in western Ukraine,
According to the case files, as the special service indicates, "the agent tracked the addresses of such companies and also scouted information about the types and volumes of their products."
In addition, according to the SBU, "the suspect collected a 'file' on the employees of the relevant facilities, including their personal data and specifics of their work schedules."
"According to available data, the Russian GRU planned to use the intelligence information to prepare air attacks on Ukraine's defense industry plants and to commit terrorist acts against company officials, including design engineers," the report says.
To carry out the enemy's task, as the SBU indicated, "the agent covertly elicited intelligence from his former colleagues who currently work at various enterprises of the Ukrainian defense industry." "Usually, in such conversations, the suspect acted under the pretext of 'adopting best practices' and showed professional interest, particularly in the latest defense industry developments and the specialists involved in them," the statement said.
"As the investigation revealed, the perpetrator passed the collected information to Russian military intelligence through his father, who lives in Kaliningrad and cooperates with the Russian special service," the SBU reported.
In the future, as noted by the special service, he "was supposed to get a job at another defense enterprise to collect new information for the benefit of the aggressor country."
"In addition, during targeted attacks by the Rashists based on the agent's coordinates, his GRU handlers promised to evacuate the suspect from the potential strike zone in advance. For this, he hoped to receive code words from them via messenger," the report states.
SBU counterintelligence officers reportedly "acted proactively and prevented the Russian 'mole' from being employed at another defense industry enterprise." Simultaneously, the locations of Ukraine's defense facilities were secured.
"At the final stage of the special operation, the agent was detained at his place of residence," the SBU noted.
During a search of his home, as indicated, "mobile phones with evidence of working for the enemy were found." Also, according to the report, weapons and ammunition were seized from the detainee, the origin of which is currently being investigated by law enforcement officers.
The agent was notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed under martial law). The perpetrator faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.