A court in Kharkiv has issued a long-awaited verdict to a 42-year-old assistant locomotive driver, who was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment for state treason and leaking data about the movement of Ukrainian military train convoys in a chat-bot used by Russian military intelligence
This is one of the most high-profile detentions in the context of counterintelligence efforts by Ukrainian security services in 2024, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the challenges the country faces in its fight against Russian aggression. As established by the Security Service of Ukraine, the detained resident of the "Ukrzaliznytsia" regional branch in Kharkiv region, involved in cooperation with Russian intelligence, served as an internal "leaker" of secret information. According to investigation data, this man was recruited by a personnel agent from the 78th Intelligence Centre of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia, who gained access to valuable military information through a subordinate. The victim of Russian recruitment was specifically the assistant locomotive driver, who, while in the locomotive cab, directly recorded the directions of movement of military freight trains passing through Kharkiv and Sumy regions. These data were subsequently transferred via a chat-bot used by Russian special services, which was used to track the logistics of the Ukrainian military. Additionally, during business trips, the perpetrator collected information about fortifications, strongholds, and command posts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, creating a potential threat to national security and risking losses in military operations. A particularly concerning fact is his publicly expressed denial of Russian aggression on social media, indicating ideological involvement and support for Kremlin's occupation actions. In summer 2024, counterintelligence agents detained an agent in Sumy region during an attempt to pass another batch of intelligence data, further demonstrating the ongoing activity of Russian security services on Ukrainian territory. After hearing all evidence, the court found the accused guilty of state treason and illegal dissemination of secret information regarding the movement of military formations. Considering the severity of the crimes and their gravity, the court imposed a sentence of 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. This strict verdict demonstrates the unwavering stance of Ukrainian law enforcement in combating espionage and treason, as well as their readiness to act preventively against any manifestations of betrayal that undermine the country’s defense capabilities. This case is yet another reminder to all citizens of the dangers hidden in betrayal and malicious intentions of the enemy. Ukraine remains constantly prepared to fight such phenomena, strengthening security measures and engaging citizens in protecting the state from internal and external enemies.