The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed a flight instructor from one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ air brigades who turned out to be an agent of Russian military intelligence.
According to the SBU, he was gathering information to prepare strikes on Ukrainian airfields where F-16, Mirage 2000, and Su-24 aircraft are based.
The investigation established that the agent was performing several hostile tasks simultaneously:
- First, he transmitted information for the preparation of new Russian missile and drone attacks on air force facilities. The agent collected the coordinates of aircraft locations, schedules, and the principle of their flight order. In addition, the traitor prepared and transmitted to the occupiers an analytical report on the tactics of combined strikes, which he considered necessary.
- Second, the agent transmitted to Russian military intelligence the personal data of Ukrainian Armed Forces pilots, the tail numbers and armament of their aircraft, and combat flight tactics. For the sake of secrecy, the suspect communicated with the Russian special services agent via an anonymous email channel and used “secret chats” in messengers.
Investigators from the Security Service plan to inform the detainee of the suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (treason committed under martial law).
The perpetrator faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.