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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