Ukraine detains Russian FSB agent in Kyiv PHOTO

On February 2, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it had detained a suspected agent of Russia’s FSB intelligence service who was allegedly gathering information on Ukrainian military airfields.

The SBU said the suspect, a 21-year-old student from a university in central Ukraine, had been recruited remotely by Russian intelligence after responding to advertisements for “easy money” on Telegram channels, Caliber.Az reports via SBU.

According to investigators, the man was tasked with identifying the locations of airfields used by Ukraine’s defence forces in the Cherkasy region and transmitting their coordinates. If aircraft were spotted, he was also instructed to collect additional information on combat aviation and personnel stationed at the sites.

The SBU said the suspect travelled around the area, photographing elements of airfield infrastructure from a distance. In an attempt to avoid detection, he later moved to Kyiv, hoping to blend into the capital before resuming intelligence-gathering activities.

Ukrainian counter-intelligence officers identified and detained the suspect in Kyiv, the SBU said, adding that additional security measures were taken to protect military facilities.

During searches, officers seized a smartphone that was allegedly used to communicate with an FSB handler.

The suspect has been formally charged with high treason committed under martial law and is being held in custody without the right to bail. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property, the SBU said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev