Ukrainian security services have arrested a marine brigade officer accused of operating as a Russian intelligence agent while commanding an unmanned aerial vehicle platoon on the southern front, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

The platoon commander was passing his own unit’s coordinates to Russian forces. Why? To help them target Ukrainian positions more accurately, the SBU reports.

The officer guided Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian command posts and ammunition warehouses. He knew exactly where neighboring units stored their weapons and where commanders operated from backup locations.

What was his next mission? Recruit more Ukrainian soldiers for Russia’s FSB intelligence network. The SBU says he actively tried convincing other service members to switch sides, reporting his recruitment efforts back to Moscow.

The Russian intelligence service recruited the Ukrainian officer through family members located in occupied areas of Luhansk Oblast. This recruitment method exploits personal connections in territories under Russian control where relatives may also face coercion or pressure.

The evidence tells the story. During his arrest at the marine base, investigators seized a flash drive loaded with classified information ready for transfer to Russian intelligence. Two phones. Direct communication with his FSB handler.

The security service says it documented the suspect’s activities and implemented protective measures for Defense Forces personnel and locations in areas where the FSB maintained agent operations.

The legal consequences are severe. Investigators in Mykolaiv Oblast charged him with high treason during martial law. No bail. Life imprisonment possible if convicted, with complete asset forfeiture.

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A pilot trusted with Ukraine’s most sensitive air operations was secretly feeding targeting data to Russian intelligence, Ukraine’s Security Service says.

The major worked as a flight instructor in an air brigade responsible for shooting down Russian missiles and drones. His unit also conducted ground strikes supporting Ukrainian army operations. Perfect access.

What was he selling? Coordinates of F-16 and Mirage 2000 airbases. Flight schedules. Aircraft tail numbers. Even pilot names.

The Security Service of Ukraine announced the arrest on 30 July, revealing how military counterintelligence tracked the officer as he prepared to pass another batch of classified information to Russia’s GRU military intelligence service.

But the betrayal went deeper than basic intelligence gathering.

The major authored analytical reports for his Russian handlers, outlining specific tactics for combined missile and drone strikes designed to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses. Essentially providing a how-to guide for destroying the aircraft he was supposed to protect.

How did he communicate with Moscow? Anonymous email channels and encrypted messaging apps, according to investigators.

The timing matters. Ukraine has been integrating Western fighters including F-16s and Mirage 2000s into its air force operations. Russia has repeatedly targeted these aircraft with long-range strikes, making the intelligence particularly valuable.

The major faces life imprisonment with property confiscation under Ukraine’s wartime treason laws. The Security Service in western Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast is handling the investigation.