Russia’s FSB detains Kursk region resident on suspicion of spying for Ukraine

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a 24-year-old resident of the Kursk region on suspicion of high treason, according to the agency’s Public Relations Centre.

The FSB said the man was collecting information on military and civilian facilities in the region for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to the agency, the suspect was a Russian citizen born in 2002.

An officer of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate allegedly recruited the suspect via the Telegram messaging app, persuading him to cooperate in exchange for financial compensation.

“Acting in the interests of Ukrainian special services, the Russian citizen involved at least four residents of Kursk from among his close contacts in collecting and transmitting information, including photographs, regarding military and civilian facilities in the region,” the FSB’s Public Relations Centre noted.

The detained individual has reportedly confessed to the charges.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov