As the investigation established, the task of the Russian special services was carried out by a 24-year-old IT specialist from one of the Kyiv universities who had been recruited by the invaders. He reportedly came to the attention of the FSB while searching for “easy money” on Telegram channels.
Under the instructions of the Russian special services, the man recorded the aftermath of the aggressor’s air attacks on Kyiv and monitored the locations of Ukrainian air defense systems.
To do this, he rented apartments in multi-story buildings using money provided by the FSB. The addresses were sent to him in advance by a handler. In the windows of these apartments, he installed video cameras with remote access for the Russian special services.
The Russians reportedly used this setup to spy on potential targets in real time during Russia’s combined attacks on Kyiv, aiming to enable repeated strikes on the city.
In addition, according to Ukrainian special services, the Russian Federation used a covert online broadcast in hopes of identifying the coordinates of Ukrainian air defense combat positions.
The man is also suspected of placing similar “video traps” near Ukrainian Railways tracks, where, according to the occupiers, military trains might move through the Kyiv region.
The SBU said its counterintelligence identified him in advance and detained him in a rented apartment, where they discovered a video camera and seized a phone containing evidence of his contact with the FSB handler.
SBU investigators have charged him under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — high treason committed under martial law.
The detainee is currently in custody. He faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.