Based on evidence collected by the Security Service, an agent of russia’s federal security service, exposed in March 2022 for adjusting russian air strikes on Odesa, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The investigation established that the perpetrator guided russian missiles at the locations of the Defence Forces in the port city.

The targets he reconnoitered included Ukrainian checkpoints and bases of the AFU Territorial Defence Forces.

According to the investigation, russia’s task was carried out by a 54-year-old entrepreneur from Odesa region. He came to the FSB’s attention in the summer of 2018, when he was visiting relatives in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol.

From the start of the full-scale war, the russians activated the asset and instructed him to collect coordinates of the Defence Forces bases, which the enemy used to prepare air strikes.

It has been documented how he drove around the city and its suburbs in his car, photographed the outer perimeters of military facilities, and marked them on Google Maps.

During his reconnaissance trips, the agent was also tracking approximate number of personnel and military equipment at the locations of Ukrainian defenders.

The SSU detained the spy at his home. A smartphone with an anonymous chat in a messenger app, through which he communicated with his FSB handler, was seized during the search.

In addition, an AK-74 assault rifle, a Makarov pistol, over 1,100 rounds of ammunition, and three F-1 and RG-42 combat grenades were found in the suspect’s home.

Based on the SSU’s investigation, the court found the accused guilty under two Articles of the CCU:

• 111.1 (high treason);
• 263.1 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives).

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Odesa Office under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.