Ukraine jails Russian military intelligence agent for targeting energy infrastructure

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has sentenced a Russian military intelligence agent to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for coordinating air strikes on critical energy infrastructure in the southeastern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro.

According to the SBU, the convicted man is a 28-year-old graduate of Zaporizhzhia Electrical Engineering College who was recruited by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU. Ukrainian authorities say he first drew the attention of Russian operatives after publishing pro-Kremlin content on Telegram channels, Caliber.Az reports. 

After being recruited, the agent was instructed to secure employment at an energy company in Zaporizhzhia. While posing as an employee on business trips, he allegedly documented the aftermath of Russian missile and drone attacks on power substations and other energy facilities. He also provided precise geolocation data of these sites to his handlers in Russia, the SBU said.

Investigators reported that the agent regularly travelled to the city of Dnipro, where he collected intelligence on damage to energy facilities and monitored repair and restoration efforts. The information was transmitted through an anonymous chat on a messaging application.

During a search of the suspect’s residence, law enforcement officers seized a smartphone used to communicate with Russian intelligence officers.

A Ukrainian court found the man guilty of high treason committed under martial law. 

By Sabina Mammadli