A suspect accused of spying for Russian intelligence has been held at the Odesa Pretrial Detention Center

A man suspected by the SBU of treason has been remanded in custody in Odesa. According to investigators, he used Telegram to pass information about the locations of Ukrainian military personnel and air defense systems to a Russian intelligence officer.

This is evidenced by a ruling from the Peresypsky District Court of Odesa. 

According to the case file, between February and April 2026, the man established contact with a Russian intelligence officer via Telegram and agreed to collect and transmit information on the locations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military units.

In particular, on February 28, according to the investigation, the man sent his contact a Google Maps screenshot showing the coordinates of Ukrainian military units and markers indicating training facilities, barracks, administrative buildings, and a mess hall. In March, he transmitted other images containing coordinates and information about anti-aircraft missile launch sites, mobile air defense systems, pickup trucks, and weapons.

Among the evidence cited by investigators were materials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a report on the inspection of the crime scene—during which Telegram correspondence with an unidentified FSB officer was discovered on the suspect’s cell phone—as well as an interrogation report.

Investigators explained the need to extend the investigation by noting that they still need to analyze information from mobile operators, obtain the results of a psychiatric evaluation, transfer physical evidence to storage, and so on.

The judge ruled that the investigation’s motion was well-founded. Consequently, the pretrial investigation in the case will continue until November 3, 2026. In a separate ruling, the judge ordered that the man remain in custody at the Odesa Pretrial Detention Center.

Also, in late August, the SBU exposed a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier in the Odesa region who had been recruited by Russian intelligence services via Telegram to gather data on Ukrainian forces. The agent photographed military bases and transmitted the coordinates of potential targets for strikes in southern Ukraine.

Анна Літман