SBU arrests in Odesa former merchant seaman suspected of assisting Russian strikes
Ukraine's SBU detained a former merchant seaman in Odesa on suspicion of state treason and helping the FSB direct Russian reconnaissance drones toward Ukrainian air-defence positions. Investigators say he supplied information about defences protecting the city and covertly photographed potential targets. He was detained before the reported strikes and placed under custody without the right to bail.
עיקרי הדברים
- SBU military counterintelligence detained the former merchant seaman in Odesa.
- He is suspected of treason under Part 2 of Article 111 of Ukraine's Criminal Code and of helping the FSB target strikes on the city.
- Investigators say he passed information on Ukrainian air-defence positions and directed Russian reconnaissance drones toward them.
- The arrest took place before the reported strikes on Ukrainian air-defence positions.
- SBU secured military basing sites in the area and changed the deployment of defence forces in Odesa.
- A video camera and smartphone used for intelligence gathering and contacts with the FSB were seized during the search.
- The suspect faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property and was taken into custody without the right to bail.
למה זה חשוב
The suspect is alleged to have supplied information that enabled Russian drones to target Ukrainian air-defence positions protecting Odesa. His detention before the reported attack allowed security authorities to secure military sites and adjust the deployment of defence forces in the city.
מה קרה
The SBU's military counterintelligence detained a former merchant seaman at his place of residence in Odesa. The suspect is alleged to have been recruited by the FSB after being discharged from his vessel, with a former Odesa police officer who had moved to Russia acting as intermediary. According to investigators, he travelled around Odesa and its outskirts by bicycle, covertly photographing and filming potential targets, and provided information about the location of Ukrainian air defences. He is also alleged to have directed Russian reconnaissance drones toward the combat positions of air-defence units protecting the city. The arrest occurred before the reported strikes; during the operation, SBU secured military basing sites in the area and changed the deployment of defence forces in Odesa. A video camera and smartphone used to collect intelligence and maintain contacts with the FSB were seized. The suspect was informed of the suspicion of state treason committed under martial law and was placed under custody without the right to bail.
כך מתארים זאת מקורות אוקראיניים
Ukrainian reports focus on the security implications for Odesa, including the protection of air-defence positions, the timing of the detention before the attack and the subsequent adjustment of defence-force locations. The case is presented through the lens of a criminal investigation, with attention to the recruitment chain, alleged intelligence-gathering methods, seized devices, the treason charge and the custodial measure.
רקע
Investigators say the FSB recruited the suspect after he was discharged from a merchant vessel, using a former Odesa police officer who had relocated to Russia as an intermediary. According to the case materials, the suspect repeatedly expressed support for the Kremlin regime in conversations around him.