Special operation results in detention of family preparing Russian sabotage acts in Kharkiv Oblast – SBU
The Security Service of Ukraine has announced the detention of a brother and sister who reconnoitered strategic facilities of Ukrzaliznytsia in Kharkiv Oblast so that the Russians could carry out sabotage acts there, reported the SBU press center.
According to the investigation, the defendants were most interested in "vulnerable" areas of rolling stock movement, such as railway bridges, overpasses, and car tunnels under the tracks. The offenders also established the coordinates of relay cabinets and transformer substations of the state rail transport company.
The agents were to pass the information to their Russian handler in the form of geolocations of critical infrastructure on Google Maps. Based on this information, the Russians planned to carry out sabotage activities on the railroad line during the movement of a freight train of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In this way, the occupiers hoped to disrupt the uninterrupted supply of Ukrainian weapons and ammunition to the frontline of the eastern front, the SBU said.
The entire agent group was exposed at the initial stage of its intelligence activity. After that, they were documented "step by step" and detained while collecting intelligence.
According to the SBU, the detainees were a brother and sister who worked together in a municipal institution in the Izyum district. In the summer of 2023, they were recruited by a GRU officer through anti-Ukrainian posts on pro-Kremlin Telegram channels.
Investigators have now indicted the defendants under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (treason committed under martial law by prior conspiracy by a group of persons). They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The offenders are in custody.