Ukraine foils alleged Russian spy plot against defence enterprises PHOTO

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has detained an employee of a factory in the Zakarpattia region on suspicion of spying on defence industry enterprises in western Ukraine.

It said the suspect gathered information on companies fulfilling defence contracts, including their locations, the types and volume of products manufactured, as well as personal data and work schedules of employees, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the agency, Russian military intelligence allegedly planned to use the information to prepare air strikes against Ukraine’s defence industry facilities and carry out attacks against company officials, including engineers involved in weapons development.

Investigators made it clear that the suspect covertly collected intelligence from former colleagues currently employed at Ukrainian defence enterprises and passed the information to Russian military intelligence through his father, who lives in Kaliningrad and is said to cooperate with Russian спецслужбы.

The SBU stated that the suspect intended to secure employment at another defence facility to continue gathering information for Russia.

Investigators also noted that Russian handlers also promised to warn him of strikes coordinated using his information so he could leave the targeted area.

The man was detained at his residence, where investigators reportedly seized mobile phones containing evidence of cooperation with Russia, along with weapons and ammunition whose origin is still being established.

The suspect has been charged with high treason committed under martial law and faces a possible life sentence with confiscation of property.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov