Jan. 16, 2026, 12:01 p.m.
(PHOTO: SBU)
The Security Service of Ukraine's counterintelligence service has reported the detention of two men suspected of working for Russian military intelligence (better known as a game) in Odesa.
According to the SBU, on the instructions of the enemy, the suspects were preparing attacks on the military deployed in the region by means of so-called ammunition drops using a civilian quadcopter.
The SBU acted proactively and detained the agents on the eve of the planned launch of the drone, when they already had a warhead ready to drop and a target for the strike agreed by the Russian supervisor - one of the locations of a local unit of the Defense Forces.
The investigation revealed that one of the suspects was a 49-year-old local businessman who was recruited by the occupiers through a Telegram channel looking for easy money. According to the case file, he first received a quadcopter from the occupiers, and then took 2 kilograms of plastid and components for an improvised explosive device from a cache and equipped the drone with them.
Next, he enlisted his 47-year-old friend to help him scout out the places where Ukrainian troops were most heavily concentrated. They marked the locations on Google maps and reported back to their Russian supervisor.
After agreeing on the target with the Russian intelligence officer, they began preparing an air strike. At this stage, they were detained by SBU counterintelligence officers. During the searches, the SBU seized a quadcopter with explosives, as well as a Kalashnikov assault rifle, two Makarov pistols with ammunition, an F-1 combat grenade and other weapons.
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VIDEO: SBU
The SBU investigators notified the agents of suspicion of:
The offenders are being held in custody without bail and face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime, including the channels of purchase of firearms and ammunition.
PHOTO: SBU
Кирило Бойко