The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has apprehended a deputy director of a school in Kramatorsk for allegedly gathering intelligence on Ukrainian military positions and relaying this information to Russian intelligence, facilitating missile and drone strikes.
The suspect reportedly came to the attention of the FSB early in the full-scale invasion, making trips to Belarus. In the summer of 2024, she was activated by the agency and tasked with monitoring the defensive forces in the frontline city of Kramatorsk.
According to SBU reports, the deputy director conducted reconnaissance throughout the city, documenting the locations of Ukrainian troops and military equipment. She also attempted to extract information through casual conversations, leveraging her social network.
The intelligence she collected was transmitted to her Russian handler via messaging apps, utilizing both voice and text messages to specify exact locations.
SBU operatives documented her activities and arrested her at her residence, simultaneously implementing measures to safeguard Ukrainian military positions. During the search, agents seized a smartphone that she had used for gathering intelligence and communicating with the FSB.
The woman has been charged under part two of Article 111 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code for treason in a time of war. She is currently in custody without the possibility of bail, facing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment with asset confiscation.
In related news, on April 13, a terrorist attack occurred in Brovary, Kyiv region, where an explosion took place near a private residence. Police identified two suspects: a 23-year-old resident of Brovary and a 17-year-old from Chernivtsi, both allegedly acting under the direction of Russian intelligence in exchange for financial rewards.
Additionally, the SBU has issued a notice of suspicion to Russian Major General Denis Baril, who commanded the occupation of Yahidne in the Chernihiv region, where 369 civilians were imprisoned in a school basement, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals.
Earlier, the SBU thwarted a planned terrorist attack in Kyiv, where an FSB agent from temporarily occupied Donetsk was preparing to detonate a homemade bomb near the home of a Ukrainian employers’ federation leader. The suspect was captured following reconnaissance at the intended explosion site and now faces life imprisonment.
The arrest of a school deputy director in Kramatorsk for espionage highlights ongoing security challenges in Ukraine, as authorities continue to combat infiltration by Russian intelligence. This incident, along with other recent terrorist activities, underscores the persistent threat posed by foreign operatives in the region.