In Poltava region, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) uncovered and detained a local resident who was engaged in reconnaissance and transmitting data to Russia about military facilities in the region, including medical institutions and air defense systems
This event is significant in the context of the country's security and the fight against espionage by occupying forces. According to information from the SBU press service and the regional prosecutor's office, the man, a 36-year-old unemployed resident of Poltava region, was detained in early March of this year. He was collecting confidential data related to the location of military hospitals and medical centers, where wounded soldiers had been treated, as well as patrol routes of air defense systems that protect the region's airspace from aerial attacks. Investigation findings show that the man actively cooperated with a representative of Russian special services via the popular messaging app Telegram. The Russian intelligence officer offered him money in exchange for providing valuable information about strategic facilities, and the detained individual deliberately and systematically carried out these tasks. To avoid drawing attention, he employed multiple layers of protection: periodically changing SIM cards and informing about the collected data, verifying it directly on the ground and among acquaintances. During searches, law enforcement officers confiscated mobile phones, SIM cards, and correspondences with the Russian agent. Preliminary investigation established that the suspect was transmitting coordinates of military hospitals and air defense routes, which could have had critical consequences for the security of Ukrainian military personnel and the regional population. In connection with this case, investigators opened a criminal case under the article on state treason (Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Under the law, the offender faces the possibility of life imprisonment with confiscation of property. Currently, the suspect has been formally detained as a preventive measure. This case exemplifies the active efforts of Ukrainian special services to combat foreign intelligence operations attempting to infiltrate key strategic facilities of the country through communication channels. The suspect has been notified of suspicion, and the case has been forwarded to court for sentencing.