Ukrainian Intelligence Detains Woman Accused of Espionage Linked To President's Itinerary, Military Facilities
Accused Woman Seized in Mykolaiv
Overt Operator
August 08, 2023
Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency, the SBU, announced on Monday the arrest of a woman accused of espionage. The woman allegedly gathered information related to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's travel plans and attempted to convey details about Ukrainian military facilities to Russia.
While the name of the suspected agent was withheld, the agency published a blurred image depicting a dark-haired woman in a black-and-white dress, flanked by two servicemen.
The suspect was apprehended in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv, where President Zelenskiy had last visited on July 27, according to his media channel.
The SBU also charged the accused with seeking the locations of Ukrainian electronic warfare systems and ammunition depots near the port town of Ochakiv, situated 30 miles (48 km) from Mykolaiv. The details highlight an ongoing espionage struggle amidst the broader tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
"Members of the SBU caught the traitor red-handed when she was trying to pass intelligence to the invaders," the intelligence agency proclaimed. It further revealed that additional security measures were implemented during President Zelenskiy's visit.
The woman, a resident of Ochakiv, previously worked at an army store selling goods to soldiers in one of the local Ukrainian military units. The SBU's statement indicated that a court had authorized her arrest and that she could face up to 12 years in prison if found guilty.
This arrest comes at a time of heightened tensions and complex relations between Ukraine and Russia. Both countries have a history of accusing each other of espionage and other intelligence-related activities. The security environment around the Ukrainian leadership and military facilities has been a subject of intense scrutiny, given the ongoing conflict in the Eastern regions of the country.