Ex-serviceman caught spying on Ukraine’s air defenses

That’s according to the agency’s press service, Ukrinform reports.

On the instructions of a Russian intelligence operative, the culprit had been trying to locate deployment points and logistics of mobile air defense fire groups protecting the sky over Kharkiv.

In the zone of his special attention were also possible bases of the Kraken special operations unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

The suspect would observe potential locations of interest across the city and then put the data collected on Google Maps and selected video files to transfer to his Russian handlers. The invaders needed that intelligence to prepare strikes on Kharkiv.

The SBU detained an enemy aide in his apartment while taking additional measures to secure the Ukrainian military bases.

It was found that the invaders remotely recruited the perpetrator in April as an ideological supporter of the “Russian world” concept.

He came to the attention of Russian intelligence over his anti-Ukrainian comments on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels.

During the raid of the detainee's apartment, law enforcers seized a mobile phone, a video camera, a monocular, and flash drives containing evidence of the man's criminal activities.

The investigators charged the suspect under Art. 114-2 Part 2 of the Criminal Code (unauthorized dissemination of information about the movement or location of the Armed Forces units).

The suspect is now in custody, facing up to eight years in prison if found guilty.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, this May the SBU detained a former convict who had been reconnoitering Ukraine’s defense lines in Kharkiv region.