Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) on Tuesday announced it had broken up a Russian spy network that was collecting intelligence on Ukrainian aviation infrastructure for future missile strikes on F-16 jets.
According to the SBU, agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) were apprehended while they were “hunting” for fighter jets and combat helicopters near one of Ukraine’s military airfields.
Why It Matters
Ukraine announced in August 2024 that it had received its first batch of F-16 aircraft from Western allies following a long wait. Sending fighter jets such as F-16s had once been ruled out by the U.K. and U.S., who deemed it a “red line” for Ukraine’s international supporters.
Kyiv hopes the fighter jets will represent a significant upgrade from the older Soviet-era aircraft it has used in its defenses against invading Russians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to media representatives while standing in front of an F16 fighter jet at an undisclosed location on August 4, 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to media representatives while standing in front of an F16 fighter jet at an undisclosed location on August 4, 2024.
Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images
What To Know
The SBU said it had arrested two alleged FSB agents who were caught “red-handed” photographing a Ukrainian F-16 taking off from a military airfield. The Russian agents were said to be aided by two residents of the Ukrainian city Kremenchuk. Those accomplices, who were said to be aged 21 and 22, were allegedly recruited by a female FSB employee.
“The [FSB] agents’ task was to collect the exact coordinates of the main and reserve airfields and aviation infrastructure facilities of Ukraine so that the enemy could later launch missile and drone strikes on them,” the SBU said in a statement.
Having the intelligence of Ukraine’s aviation faculties would reportedly help Russia’s military make adjustments in order to maximize the effectiveness of its missile and drone strikes.
Newsweek contacted Russia’s FSB via online form on Tuesday for comment.
In order to carry out their surveillance, the Russians planned to travel to five different regions of Ukraine by public bus, according to the SBU. Once near their intended targets, the alleged agents would then rent housing in order to spy for several days.
The Ukrainian security agency added that the detained Russians were found with mobile phones that contained evidence of their wrongdoing.
What People Are Saying
Ukraine’s SBU said in a statement that its “officers exposed both [Russian] agents at the initial stage of hostile intelligence activity, documented their fruitless visits to several regions and detained them while photographing F-16 fighter jets.”
What’s Next
The alleged Russian spy agents are currently being held without bail and face life in prison should they be found guilty of the alleged crimes.