Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) detained a mobilized Ukrainian serviceman in Mykolaiv on November 12 for allegedly preparing to guide a missile strike against an Air Assault Forces brigade. The SBU reported that the suspect was an agent for Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), tasked with transmitting real-time coordinates of a military facility where a colonel, the brigade commander, was expected to be present. Investigators found the man arrested at his unit while he prepared to send this data to his handler. The operation involved the SBU’s military counterintelligence working alongside Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR).
How the recruitment unfolded
The investigation revealed that the serviceman "attracted the attention" of Russian intelligence while seeking romantic relationships on Telegram dating channels. After being recruited, he communicated with an FSB officer via an anonymous chat and used his position as a driver to gather information about the brigade command’s whereabouts. He also allegedly supplied details on Ukrainian facilities that stored and launched long-range attack drones targeting Russian rear positions. This dual role meant he was leaking sensitive logistical data while specifically plotting the assassination of a high-ranking officer. The SBU stated that it detected the plot in advance and secured the locations of the airborne troops before moving to arrest him.
Charges and legal consequences
Investigators discovered a phone containing messages to the FSB handler that detailed the preparations for the planned assassination. The suspect is now charged with high treason under martial law. He remains in custody without the right to bail. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment along with the confiscation of property. The SBU emphasized that the arrest prevented the execution of the strike. The case highlights how digital platforms are exploited for espionage. The security service acted swiftly to neutralize the threat. The colonel remains safe. The legal process will now determine the final penalty.
