SBU detains two residents of Odesa region on suspicion of guiding Russian drones

The SBU CI detained two residents of Odesa region on suspicion of being agents of the Russian Federal Security Service and adjusting Russian missile and drone attacks in Odesa and Kirovohrad regions.

According to the SBU press service, the suspects acted separately but had one common supervisor. Both suspects were recruited by the enemy through Telegram channels.

Among the detainees is a 33-year-old deserter who left a military unit in the Kirovohrad region without permission and then, according to the SBU, informed the FSB of the location of the unit in which he served.

In addition, he sent the occupiers the coordinates of the headquarters, training grounds and routes of the Defense Forces towards the front. After returning to Odesa region, the man tried to get a job as a laborer at a defense plant. There he also planned to collect and pass new intelligence to the aggressor.

The SBU officers prevented an agent's penetration into the Ukrainian defense industry enterprise and detained the suspect at his place of residence. Before that, the SBU conducted security measures in the military unit where he served.

Another one, a 49-year-old handyman from the village of Lymanske, was allegedly passing on to the FSB the movement directions and combat positions of mobile air defense fire groups during air raids. During the searches, the SBU seized smartphones with evidence of working for the enemy.

SBU investigators served them suspicion notices under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law);
• Article 408, part 4 (desertion committed under martial law).

The offenders are being held in custody without the right to be released on bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Кирило Бойко