SBU arrests FSB agent couple who planted 'video traps' in Kyiv buildings
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained an Russian agent couple of the Federal Security Service (FSB) from Poltava, who were setting up "video traps" in high-rise buildings to adjust missile and drone strikes on Kyiv online, the press service of the agency reported.
"Counterintelligence of the Security Service has detained two more FSB agents who adjusted the Russian Federation's air strikes on Kyiv. To direct enemy attacks, the attackers installed 4G cameras with remote access for the occupiers," the SBU said on Telegram on Wednesday.
It is reported that the occupiers hoped to use the video devices to monitor missile and drone attacks online. In particular, the occupiers were interested in the coordinates from which the Ukrainian air defense operates. As the investigation established, the vast majority of the "video traps" were set up by the defendants on the windows of the upper floors of apartment buildings in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. To do this, the agents rented apartments for FSB money, which they then entered with the purchased video equipment.
According to the case materials, the Russian Federation's orders were carried out by a 22-year-old Poltava resident and his 19-year-old wife, who were looking for "easy money" in Telegram channels.
After recruitment, the agents "toured" various cities in the northern regions of Ukraine, where they looked for homes near military facilities and critical infrastructure. Thus, in addition to apartments, the defendants installed cameras near the hub stations of Ukrzaliznytsia and main tracks.
SBU counterintelligence officers exposed the agent couple in advance and took measures to secure the relevant locations. At the final stage of the special operation, both suspects were caught red-handed while they were installing a video camera in an apartment near a defense facility.
Investigators of the Security Service informed them of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed under martial law by prior conspiracy by a group of persons). The perpetrators are being held without bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.