A 22 year old woman was detained in the Zhytomyr region on charges of espionage for the Russian Federation. The woman, who was a resident of Korosten, had been gathering intelligence on Ukrainian military positions, including spare command posts, administrative buildings of the Defence Forces, and the movements of freight trains, which she suspected could be transporting military equipment. In a disturbing twist, she used her 4-year-old child as a cover for her covert activities, walking around the city while photographing sensitive locations.
According to the investigation, the woman had been seeking additional income via Telegram, where she was recruited by a Russian intelligence officer. The SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) was able to trace the officer’s identity with the help of its cyber specialists. The woman was observed walking through the city, photographing military facilities under the pretense of taking her child to kindergarten.
The woman was apprehended with a mobile phone that contained clear evidence of her espionage activities for the Russian Federation. She has now been formally charged with treason under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which deals with acts of treason committed during martial law. The charge carries a potential life sentence, along with the confiscation of property.
This case comes as the SBU continues its efforts to prevent Russian efforts to undermine Ukraine’s security through espionage, even at the level of civilians. The woman is currently in custody, and her trial will determine the full extent of her actions.
In a related development, the SBU also detained a 57-year-old official in Mykolaiv for allegedly spying on behalf of the Russian occupation forces.
