20 March 2025
(Photo: Collage by Intent)
In Odesa, SBU officers detained a Moldovan citizen who was spying for the unrecognized Transnistria.
According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, he acted on the instructions of the so-called "Ministry of Defense of the PMR" and hunted for strategic information related to Ukrainian drones.
The man tried to recruit specialists who had access to the latest military developments. In exchange for money, he wanted to get secret data about UAVs and pass it on to his handler, one of the high-ranking officials of Transnistria.
The SBU added that the spy arrived in Ukraine under the guise of an entrepreneur engaged in food imports. In fact, his goal was to establish contact with a member of the Defense Forces who had access to the development of strike and reconnaissance drones. The agent planned to obtain technical documentation for the latest Ukrainian UAVs in exchange for a monetary reward.
The spy coordinated all his actions with the "Deputy Minister of Defense of Transnistria" who cooperates with the Russian GRU. It was planned that after receiving the secret data, he would take it to Transnistria to set up production of combat drones for Russia.
However, Ukrainian counterintelligence was proactive: the offender was exposed at the initial stages of the operation and all his actions were carefully documented. The detention took place when he received a flash drive with classified information.
During the search, two pistols were found on his person, which have now been sent for examination.
Investigators served the man with a notice of suspicion on two charges: espionage and illegal handling of weapons.
The court imposed on him a measure of restraint in the form of detention. The spy faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Андрій Колісніченко