Military counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine, together with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense and with the support of the Armed Forces command, has thwarted an assassination attempt against the commander of an air assault brigade. A mobilized serviceman was arrested in Mykolaiv who, according to the investigation, worked for the Russian FSB and was preparing to coordinate a missile strike on the combat unit's headquarters, where the brigade commander, a colonel, was supposed to be at the time of the planned attack.
How Recruitment Took Place via Telegram
According to investigative materials, the suspect attracted the attention of Russian intelligence services while seeking contacts in thematic Telegram channels. After being recruited, he established direct communication with an FSB handler via an anonymous chat in the messenger. It was through this channel that the agent received instructions and transmitted collected information. SBU officers seized the detainee's smartphone, which contained correspondence with the Russian intelligence operative confirming preparations for the officer's liquidation.
What the 'Mole' Was Preparing
Using his position as a driver in the unit, the suspect systematically gathered data on the locations of the air assault brigade's command. In addition, he passed information to the enemy about storage points and launch sites for Ukrainian Armed Forces strike drones. The agent's key task, according to the investigation, was to coordinate a missile strike in real-time directly on the combat unit's headquarters. At the time of the arrest, the man was preparing to send the final coordinates of the military facility to his handler.
Arrest Details and Legal Consequences
SBU officers proactively ensured the safety of the Ukrainian paratroopers' locations and arrested the suspect on the territory of the unit in Mykolaiv. The suspect has been remanded in custody without the possibility of bail. Investigators notified him of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — high treason committed under martial law. The maximum penalty for this article provides for life imprisonment.
Context: A Series of Similar Operations
The arrest in Mykolaiv is part of a series of counterintelligence operations conducted in recent weeks. Recently, the SBU, together with the police, thwarted an attempt by two repeat offenders to shell or blow up buildings of territorial recruitment centers in the center of Kyiv — the perpetrators were acting on behalf of Russian special services. Earlier in the capital, an FSB agent was also detained who was preparing for the mass activation of Starlink terminals for the needs of the occupation forces. Experts note that all three episodes demonstrate a consistent pattern of the Russian intelligence apparatus: recruitment through open digital channels, the use of internal 'moles' within Ukrainian Armed Forces structures, and attempts to destabilize Ukraine's rear.
