SBU says 18 Russian resident spies were detained in Kharkiv

Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officials detained a large group of Russian resident spies in Kharkiv in August, SBU head Vasyl Hrytsak said in an interview with the Priamy TV channel.

"A large station of Russian intelligence comprised of 18 people was detained in Kharkiv on August 17. Seven of them have already been notified of charges brought against them, and 16 searches have been conducted. They had carried out reconnaissance and sabotage activities in our territory", - the SBU head said.

"The station's curator was involved with Russian intelligence, he controlled the group's activities in Ukraine from Belgorod", - Hrytsak said.

In addition, the SBU is "documenting" another group engaged in similar activity, he said.

As previously reported, SBU head Vasyl Hrytsak said that the Russian special services planned to use three former ATO fighters for the commission of terrorist attacks in Moscow. "The information has already appeared on Life.ru, that Ukrainian special services allegedly kidnapped “Ukrainian citizen” Daria Mastikasheva, but together with Daria, we also detained Oleksandr Karataj", - Hrytsak told. According to him, these are Russian agents who were engaged in the recruitment of former ATO fighters for special operation of the FSB.

On August 17, Mastikasheva and Karataj were informed about suspicion under Art. 111 (high treason) and Art. 263 (illegal handling of weapons).