In Ukraine, a woman who had a direct connection with Russian special services and was involved in an attack on the well-known volunteer and activist Serhii Sternenko has been exposed and detained
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced this information, confirming that the detained individual is a 45-year-old resident of Odesa region who was living in Kyiv. According to official data, she was recruited by Russian special services last year when she was seeking a "quick income" online, and this factor led to her involvement in the so-called "stream" of Kremlin agents. As stated in the report, as early as the end of 2024, the woman received her first assignments from her handlers. She was ordered to monitor vehicles belonging to certain individuals, take photographs of them, and transmit this information to Russian agents. Later, according to investigative materials, she was entrusted with manufacturing a homemade explosive device — at this stage, the security services note, she already received instructions on how to create explosives. To remain more discreet, she also changed her place of residence and moved into an apartment in central Kyiv. Special attention was paid by SBU investigators to her activities around Sternenko — an activist who is currently one of the key figures in political and civil processes in Ukraine. From mid-April 2025, she began monitoring Serhii while living in a residential complex near his home. Subsequently, she was given coordinates of a "cache" where weapons were stored: a Pistol model PM and ammunition. This operation was carried out under direct instructions from her handler, with the aim of carrying out attacks that could have fatal consequences. The next morning, May 1, 2025, the woman received an order to follow through with the plan — to kill the activist very close to his residence. According to the investigation, she already knew the time Serhii would leave his home and the make of his car. As Serhii exited his residence, the woman fired several shots in his direction, one of which hit the volunteer in the leg. As a result of the shooting, the activist was wounded, but his life was saved, and the attack was immediately terminated — he was detained at the scene by SBU officers. During operational activities, the detained woman’s mobile phone was confiscated, containing evidence of collaboration with Russian special services — messengers, correspondence, photographs, as well as components for manufacturing a homemade explosive device, which she had stored in another apartment. An initial pre-trial investigation has been initiated, with ongoing investigative actions aimed at establishing all circumstances of this crime and quickly identifying other participants in the criminal group. Currently, the SBU investigators have informed the suspect of suspicions under several serious articles. In particular, she is charged with state treason committed during wartime and attempted murder by prior conspiracy with a group of persons for profit, carried out on order from Russian special services. The punishment for these crimes can be imprisonment for up to 15 years with or without confiscation of property. Ukrainian law enforcement authorities continue to actively combat criminal activities involving foreign agent networks and are diligently working to bring to justice everyone who attempts to harm national security and stability. All circumstances of the detained woman’s criminal activities are being clarified — including how she fulfilled her roles in the well-known aggressive operation against Ukrainian citizens and the state. This once again underscores the complexity and high level of danger Ukraine faces during wartime.