Ukraine captured another traitor but faces a bigger problem

The Security Service of Ukraine detained an agent of Russia’s Federal Security Service in late January as the suspect was engaged in scouting Ukrainian Defense Forces bases in Sumy Oblast, according to government reports. 

Caught while trying to identify the location of a large concentration of Ukrainian soldiers who were involved with border protection duties, the Russian agent was captured as he attempted to record Ukrainian military positions. 

The Security Service of Ukraine has accused the Russian agent of not only attempting to provide information to Moscow on Ukrainian positions but claimed he was also tasked with developing informants in the region. 

Photo Credit: The Security Service of Ukraine

The available data allegedly showed that Russia hoped to use the information provided by their agent to carry out missile and artillery strikes on the military facilities that he had scouted in order to prepare for an operation. 

Russia was hoping one of its sabotage-reconnaissance groups would be able to break through in the area. However, the security service provided no further information about the group’s intentions in the country. 

The plans collected by the Russian agent were not transmitted to his handler thanks to the manner in which he was captured by agents of the Security Service, something that a report from the service noted prevented an attack.

Moscow allegedly recruited the 54-year-old Russian agent in August 2023 after coming to the attention of the Federal Security Service via pro-Kremlin comments he had posted on a popular social networking site. 

After being recruited, the man communicated through a supervisor via anonymous chat, through which he sent his handler reports with images and text descriptions of Ukrainian objects in exchange for money from Moscow. 

The unnamed Russian agent is being charged with treason under Part 2 of Article III of the Ukrainian Criminal Code and faces life in prison for his crimes. However, this isn’t the first Russian agent caught in 2024. 

Dozens of collaborators and active Russian agents have been captured or detained by the Security Service of Ukraine for activities that involved everything from spying on military positions to helping other spies escape Ukraine. 

On January 11th, it was reported that a female Russian agent recruited in October 2023 drove upwards of 100 kilometers (62 miles) a day in order to gather intelligence about a number of areas across Ukraine's southern frontline. 

Photo Credit: The Security Service of Ukraine

On January 19th, the Security Service detained a Ukrainian man who was working with Russia and pointed out the location of an important S-300 air defense system. The agent was also helping to correct Russian strikes in Donetsk. 

Photo Credit: The Security Service of Ukraine

One of the most chilling incidents with captured Russian agents in January occurred on the 27th when Ukraine's Security Service detained a man who kept a live grenade at his house in order to blow himself up if caught for helping identify Ukrainian combat positions. 

Photo Credit: The Security Service of Ukraine

The press section of the Security Service of Ukraine's government website is filled with stories of the men and women who have been detained for their willingness to help Russia defeat Ukraine, and it is a good example of the internal war Ukraine is fighting. 

Photo Credit: The Security Service of Ukraine

Not only is Kyiv facing off against Russian soldiers on the frontlines, but it is also at war with a portion of its populace that would rather see Moscow governing Ukraine than the government that was elected by the country’s people. 

Unfortunately, some Ukrainian turncoats are successful in their missions. Horza was a community of 300, and a town where two brothers helping Russia led to a missile strike that killed 59 people on October 5th, 2023, according to The Guardian.