The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained a 55-year-old kindergarten security guard accused of coordinating a Russian attack on a village in the Zaporizhzhia region. This arrest was reported by the Zaporizhzhia Regional Prosecutor's Office and the SSU.
The prosecutor's office indicated that the security guard was recruited by Russian special services through an acquaintance, a resident of Vasylivka who remained in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast after the full-scale invasion. The woman contacted the security guard through Telegram and enlisted his help for Russia.
The SSU reported that the man was recruited in December 2023. His acquaintance, involved in the recruitment process, is identified as a chorister of the UOC-MP church.
According to the arrangement, the security guard's role was to gather intelligence on the locations and movements of Ukrainian Defense Forces and military equipment in the Zaporizhzhia direction, which he would then relay to his Russian handlers through his accomplice.
The SSU revealed that, following his instructions, the village of Stepnohirsk was shelled, resulting in the death of a local resident and damage to residential buildings. This attack reportedly took place on the eve of 2024.
Furthermore, the SSU emphasized that the security guard also helped in adjusting Russian missile strikes targeting civilian and critical infrastructure in the region.
During his arrest at his home, the SSU confiscated his phone, which was used for communication with the Russian agent. The man has been charged with high treason, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He is currently in custody and faces life imprisonment if found guilty.
This case highlights the complex and challenging security situation in Ukraine, where individuals within the community can be covertly involved in aiding enemy forces
