Russian Informant Gathering Coordinates for Strikes Uncovered by SBU in Poltava

Russian Informant Exposed in Poltava

According to Главком: Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) military counterintelligence has detained a Russian informant in Poltava who was collecting coordinates of Ukrainian defense forces for the purpose of enabling missile and drone attacks. The suspect has been taken into custody and formally notified of suspicion.

The informant, a local unemployed individual, turned to Telegram channels as a source of income. He monitored the positions of Ukrainian military personnel and marked them on Google Maps. Russian forces were particularly interested in the combat locations of air defense missile systems and radar stations belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which Moscow was preparing to target in a new wave of strikes. The suspect photographed administrative buildings and official parking lots of local National Police units. Whenever he identified potential targets, he immediately alerted Russian intelligence services, sending photo and video files along with electronic coordinates of defense force positions.

SBU Actions and Consequences

SBU operatives documented the suspect's reconnaissance activities before apprehending the enemy spotter. During searches, authorities seized his phone, which contained reports destined for the Russian Federation. Forensic examinations conducted by the SBU, including photo and computer analyses, confirmed the individual's criminal activities carried out in the interest of the aggressor state.

Investigators from the Security Service have charged him under Article 114-2, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which covers the unauthorized dissemination of information about the movement or deployment of the Armed Forces during martial law. The suspect faces up to eight years in prison.

In addition, the SBU apprehended two other Russian agents who were coordinating aerial attacks on the Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia regions. The exposure of such individuals underscores the critical role of military counterintelligence in combating enemy espionage within Ukraine.

The arrest of the Russian informant in Poltava, along with other agents, highlights the SBU's active efforts to counter intelligence and subversive activities that threaten national security. Amid the ongoing armed conflict, the swift identification and neutralization of informants capable of providing the enemy with vital information is essential. This situation reinforces the importance of cooperation between various SBU units and other law enforcement agencies in Ukraine to ensure the safety of the state and its citizens.

In a related incident, the Ukrainian Security Service has taken significant steps to counter espionage within its ranks, recently uncovering a high-ranking official acting as a Russian spy. This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian authorities in combating infiltration and maintaining national security. For more details on this espionage case, see our coverage here.