Retired Ukrainian soldier caught spying in Zaporizhzhia for Russian intelligence
Source: Ukraine’s Security Service
A 22-year-old former Ukrainian soldier was arrested in Zaporizhzhia on Friday after he was caught spying on Ukrainian army units stationed in this eastern city, according to Ukraine’s Security Service. The suspect was allegedly gathering sensitive information on the locations of command posts, ammunition depots, and fortified positions along the southern front.
The young man, who had been discharged from his active duty in May, reportedly came under the radar of the Russian GRU through his own parents. Living in the occupied area of Zaporizhzhia, they allegedly had started to colloborate with Russian officials.
After he was recruited by a Russian intelligence operative, the man started to spy on the Ukrainian military units and depots. He later scouted frontline locations around the city, mapping out Ukrainian troop movements and identifying key bridges used by the armed forces.
The SBU believes this information could have been used to launch strikes on Ukrainian positions. The spy was arrested during a reconnaissance mission near a military facility, putting an end to his covert operations.
Now in custody, this young man faces a lifetime behind bars if convicted of treason.
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