Ukraine accuses senior military officer of high treason, alleges he passed intelligence on troops’ movements to Russia

This article by Rebecca Cohen was originally published by Business Insider.

Ukrainian officials have arrested a senior military officer accused of collaborating with and passing intelligence to Russians during the ongoing war between the two countries. 

The Security Service of Ukraine said on Telegram it detained a “traitor” who was “leaking data” on Ukraine’s offensive moves and combat plans to Russian troops. 

“At the instruction of the invaders, he covertly collected information about the movement of Ukrainian troops and their replenishment with equipment and ammunition,” the SSU said. 

The SSU added that the “traitor ‘leaked’ analytical summaries of the situation at the front to his Russian curators.”

After investigating, the SSU said it identified the “accomplice” as one of their own — an official in one of the military units of the Armed Forces. The man has not been publicly named.

According to a press release from the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the Military and Defence Sphere of the Western Region, the senior military officer has been accused of treason.

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The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the Military and Defence Sphere of the Western Region said an investigation found the man sent secret information from the Defense Forces of Ukraine to Russia to benefit their war operation.

The agency accused the man of  sharing “plans for conducting military operations, training, strategic and operational-tactical ideas, detailed directions of the offensive operation, intelligence findings, movements of military equipment.” 

“This information helped the Russians counter the Ukrainian military on one of the areas of the front,” the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office said. 

The SSU was able to “detain the intruder in an attempt to transfer data to the Russian authorities.” During his arrest, the SSU said he was trying to “inform the enemy about the operational situation in one of the directions of hostilities.”

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“The suspect was exposed ‘red-handed’ during another attempt to report to the enemy,” the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office said. 

In searching his home, the SSU said it found “communication devices and computer equipment, which he used to communicate with the occupiers.”

The SSU said the man “fully admitted his guilt” and is being held in detention without bail while an investigation into his activity is underway. 

“He swore loyalty to Ukraine and then betrayed,” the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office said. 

Feature Image: Ukrainian officials detained a military officer accused of collaborating with and passing intelligence to Russians. (Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the Military and Defence Sphere of the Western Region)

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