Former guards of futigive president Yanukovych charged in major spying case

Source: SBU, National Police

Ukrainian authorities said they have uncovered a sophisticated spy network working in Ukraine for Russia’s FSB. According to the SBU, the agents spied on Ukrainian intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and high-level officials while their Russian handlers planned to use the gathered information for “assassinations, recruitment, and psychological operations”.

Among the detained men were two former security guards of Viktor Yanukovych and an active National Guard officer. The spying plot was led by Dmitry Ivantsov, a former head of the State Guard Department who helped  Yanukovych to flee to Russia in 2014.   Recruited by FSB in 2012, Ivantsov is now residing in occupied Crimea.

His spy network included Roman Lapa, another Yanukovych security service guard,  and a 46-year-old National Guard officer whose name was not disclosed.  The officer who earlier worked as Ivantsov’s driver was found using his connections within law enforcement to gather ‘sensitive information’ about Ukrainian officials.

The National Guard officer was arrested and now is facing treason charges, while Ivantsov and Lapa have been charged in absentia under the same allegations.