The Counterintelligence Unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) foiled a series of sabotage attempts on railway infrastructure facilities in the south of Ukraine. An agent of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) [formerly the Main Intelligence Directorate - ed.] was detained in Odesa Oblast. 

Source: The Security Service of Ukrainethe Prosecutor’s Office in Odesa Oblast

Details: According to the investigation, the former police officer has been cooperating with representatives of the Russian special services since April 2022. He collected and transmitted data on the deployment and movement routes of military equipment of Ukraine’s Armed Forces units, the situation in the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk, and railway traffic.

To carry out the task assigned by the Russians, the perpetrator installed two remote camera traps near the railway track in the suburbs of Odesa. These special devices enabled him to track the movement of rolling stock in real time and receive relevant photos via a mobile application.

For the purpose of conspiracy, the Russian agent constantly changed his appearance and channels of communication with his Russian "overseer", stated SSU. He also used documents issued to fake persons, in particular, a passport of a citizen of Ukraine.

The man was detained while performing another task assigned by the Russians near the railway tracks.

The SSU officers discovered a 200 g TNT block and another camera trap during the detention of the saboteur.