SBU Detains 4 Russian Agents in Mykolaiv for High Treason and Espionage

The Security Service of Ukraine neutralized another agent group of Russian special services in Mykolaiv. As a result of complex operations, four people were detained who were engaged in adjusting missile and drone strikes on the city.

This was reported by the SBU Communications Department.

According to the investigation, the main targets of the enemy were reserve command posts and logistics warehouses supporting the Defense Forces operating on the southern front.

In order to collect coordinates for fire, the agents took photos of possible locations of Ukrainian troops on the streets and surrounding areas of the regional center. In addition, they monitored the stops and maintenance of military equipment of the Armed Forces and the National Guard that was heading to the front line.

They transmitted the collected information via messengers to their liaison, Russian "military commander" Serhiy Lebedev (alias "Shaggy"), who is hiding in Donetsk and cooperates with the FSB and Russian military intelligence (GRU).

The SBU exposed the agent group, documented its criminal activities and detained the suspects at their places of residence. At the same time, measures were taken to ensure the security of the Defense Forces facilities.

According to the investigation, all the detainees came to the attention of Russian special services after publishing pro-Kremlin comments on Lokhmatyi's Telegram channel. During the searches, their cell phones with evidence of working for the enemy were seized.

Currently, the detainees have been notified of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• ч. 2 of Art. 111 (high treason under martial law)
• ч. 3 of Art. 114-2 (dissemination of information on the movement or location of the Armed Forces and other military formations established under the laws of Ukraine in wartime).

The offenders are in custody and face a sentence of 12 years in prison to life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The investigative actions aimed at bringing to justice all persons involved in the work of this FSB agent network are under way.

The operation was conducted by SBU officers in Mykolaiv region under the procedural supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.

The resident of Mykolaiv will also be tried for high treason for passing data on military positions to the enemy. He faces up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

In addition, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police detained agents of the Russian special services who were planning a terrorist attack in Mykolaiv on February 14 this year on the orders of the Kremlin. For this purpose, the aggressors used a woman from Poltava region, who was to be blown up with explosives near a cafe in the city center.

Recently, the SBU identified three people in Mykolaiv region who were conducting information and subversive activities through Viber and Telegram channels aimed at disrupting mobilization and harming the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The defendants in the case were residents of Pervomaiskyi district: two drivers of municipal and private enterprises and one unemployed woman.

Анна Бальчінос