Ukraine just caught a Russian agent trying to join its drone school

The Security Service of Ukraine detained a Russian agent after the operative attempted to enroll in a drone school in Kyiv according to a statement from the special service that was published on its official Telegram channel. 

A suspected member of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the individual who was arrested has been accused of gathering important information on special units from Ukraine’s unmanned aerial vehicle formations.   

Photo Credit: Telegram @SBUkr

The Russian agent allegedly received an assignment from a handler at the beginning of the summer and was tasked with joining Ukraine’s drone army school in Kyiv so that he could collect information on training grounds. 

"After gaining admission to the institution, his mission was to identify the locations of the training grounds of the Defense Forces,” the report from the Security Service of Ukraine read. But that wasn’t the agent’s only task. 

Russian intelligence was looking for information on where Ukrainian cadets were trained on the use of both attack and reconnaissance drones. The suspect was also tasked with uncovering the location of current drone bases. 

The suspect allegedly intended to identify the location of Ukrainian special forces bases and their drone deployments according to the Kyiv Post, and this information was going to be put to use by Russian military officials. 

The Security Service of Ukraine reported the intelligence from the now-detained suspect was intended to be used in upcoming air strikes against facilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Security Services. 

The suspect also walked the streets of Kyiv and recorded the defensive positions of the city’s soldiers. This information was also passed along to Russia and if it proved helpful the agent was rewarded for his help. 

“In the event of successful completion of hostile missions,” the Security Service report read according to a translation from The Telegraph, “the Russian infiltrators ‘guaranteed’ their agent a monetary reward, which was to be transferred to his bank account.”

The Telegraph reported that the suspect was caught red-handed while photographing a military unit in the capital and went on to note that the man now faces life in prison for his role in assisting Russian intelligence officials. 

The Security Service of Ukraine reported the 49-year-old businessman was recruited by Russian intelligence remotely roughly two months prior to his arrest. He was apparently picked because of his anti-Ukrainian activity on Telegram. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @SBUkr

Communication with his handler took place through the anonymous chat function in the Telegram app. The Telegraph reported that a search of the suspect's property revealed bank cards and computer equipment used in his operation. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @SBUkr

"He came to the attention of the aggressor due to his anti-Ukrainian posts on a Russian Telegram channel,” the Security Service report noted based on a Kyiv Post translation.  “Subsequent communication occurred through an anonymous messenger chat.”

The 49-year-old now faces treason charges according to the Security Service and he is looking at life in prison for his crimes if found guilty. The man is one of several agents in Russian employ that have been caught in the last few months. 

The Telegraph noted two Kyiv residents were arrested in September for allegedly giving Russian information to guide missile attacks against the city, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was “a clear warning to all traitors: retribution awaits.”

However, the problem seems more widespread than media reports would suggest. The Security Service of Ukraine's Telegram is filled with reports of collaborators who have been caught, which is a worrying sign for a nation fighting for its freedom from Russia.