SBU detains a UN volunteer who spied on Porkrovsk soldiers for Russia

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a local UN World Food Program volunteer in Donetsk oblast who has been recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to spy on the location of the Defense Forces around Pokrovsk, the SBU reports on Telegram.

According to the investigation, the Russian agent (aged 34) used volunteer work as a cover to identify the locations of Ukraine's infantry and artillery defending Pokrovsk. To learn the coordinates, the man traveled around the district center and nearby municipalities under the pretense of delivering humanitarian aid to locals.

Photo by the SBU

The intelligence would be sent to his Russian curator (an FSB staff member already identified by the SBU counterintelligence unit) in a messenger app.

According to the SBU, the Russians used the data received from the agent to plan new strikes on Pokrovsk with guided aerial bombs and FPV drones.

The agent was exposed and detained at the initial stage of his operation. Comprehensive measures have been taken to safeguard the Defense Forces positions.

The detainee was searched and a mobile phone with an anonymous messenger chat used to communicate with an FSB operative was seized from him.

The man was notified of suspicion under part 2 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (treason committed under martial law). He is currently in custody. He faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Photo by the SBU

Earlier, a court sentenced an FSB agent to 15 years in prison for collecting intelligence on the base locations and movement of Defense Forces units in Vovchansk community (Kharkiv oblast) for Russia.