Arrest of Russian Intelligence Agents in Odessa: Ex-Railway Worker and Rehabilitation Doctor Oppose Ukraine’s Security
In Odessa, law enforcement authorities uncovered two individuals suspected of working for Russian intelligence agencies and engaging in espionage activities against Ukraine. According to investigators, a 61-year-old local rehabilitation doctor, with a background in medical services, established communication with a Russian intelligence operative through messaging apps. She voluntarily agreed to cooperate and carried out tasks assigned by her “curator,” gathering and transmitting information about Ukrainian military facilities, their locations, troop movements, and strategic sites around the city. During searches in May 2025, law enforcement officers seized her mobile phone, which contained evidence of illegal activities. Further investigation revealed that the woman also recruited local residents. One of her accomplices was a 35-year-old Odessa resident, previously employed by Ukrzaliznytsia, according to the SBU. He provided detailed data on military personnel, routes, and geolocations of Ukrainian units in the region. The man openly supported the aggressor country’s actions on social networks, denied the temporary occupation of Ukrainian territories, and disrespected Ukrainian national dignity. He also posted messages with precise coordinates of Ukrainian armed forces’ positions. The suspect was detained in January 2025; his actions are charged under several articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, including treason and spreading anti-national information. The indictment has already been sent to court. Security agencies released recordings of conversations in which he receives instructions from the enemy’s operative, including targets for airstrikes against Ukrainian military positions and strategic facilities in the region. These include anti-aircraft missile positions, command centers, and attempts to obtain data on troop movements and geolocations of military trains and transit stations. Both individuals are currently held in pre-trial detention.