Ukraine foils undercover Russian missile plot: “Treason”
A teenage Ukrainian cadet has been arrested and charged with treason after allegedly providing sensitive military information to Russia.
Newsweek has contacted Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Ukraine has been publicizing the arrests of officers who face charges related to their command and allegations of corruption. The arrest of a cadet over allegations of treason suggests a push by Kyiv to uncover malpractice in its forces.
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What To Know
On Friday, the SBU issued a statement saying a female cadet from the Kharkiv region had been arrested on suspicion of high treason, which comes under Article 111 of the country’s criminal code.
The SBU alleged that the cadet had communicated with Russia’s main intelligence agency, the FSB, which paid her for sensitive military information.
The suspect was not named in the statement, which included images of the arrest by law enforcement officers.
According to the SBU, the cadet had been transferred to the western Lviv region for training and had come into contact with an FSB representative, whom she contacted via a messenger app.
She was paid to pass on information to Russia about the location of Ukrainian military facilities, troop deployments and the consequences of shelling in the region, the statement said.
After her mission was completed, the FSB planned to evacuate her from Ukraine to Russia via a third country, the Kyiv Independent reported.
The cadet was arrested while trying to send coordinates to the FSB of official university buildings where other cadets, including her classmates, were staying. She was exposed by officers who prevented potential strikes on military positions, the SBU said. The cadet’s mobile phone and laptop were seized.
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation detained two generals and a colonel, with one commander arrested for not informing the authorities about a mass desertion of troops.
Ukraine has struggled with mobilization problems. Legislation introduced in May sought to help replenish troops, lowering the draft age to 25. However, 6 million citizens have not updated their details on the government database as required by the new law.
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian veteran Viktor Kovalenko previously told Newsweek: “The era of accountability for Ukrainian military officers regarding desertion in their units just began. The true reason of growing desertions lays in low morale and patriotism of recent conscripts who never wanted to defend their homeland and were caught and forced to do that. Ukraine is running out of the mobilization reserve, and this is much bigger issue than violations of a few officers.”
What Happens Next
The cadet has been detained without bail pending a pretrial investigation by members of the SBU in the Lviv region. Under Article 111 of Ukraine’s criminal code, she could face up to life imprisonment if convicted of the charges.
