“Collection of classified information of a military nature”: the FSB detained a Russian woman recruited by Ukraine in Sevastopol

A Russian woman in Sevastopol was collecting secret military information for the Ukrainian intelligence services. The high treason suspect was detained by the FSB.

“The federal security service of the Russian Federation, on suspicion of treason, detained a Russian citizen in Sevastopol, who was recruited by Ukrainian special services and, on the instructions of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, purposefully collected secret military information,” the agency’s website says.

Based on the signs of a crime, a criminal case was opened under Art. 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (high treason). Thus, she faces 12 to 20 years in prison.

The Leninsky District Court of Sevastopol placed her under arrest for two months. This was reported to TASS in the court itself.

“They were detained for two months,” the source said.

What kind of information the woman collected was not reported. It is also unknown where she worked and what her name is. However, State Duma deputy from Sevastopol Dmitry Belik claims that she served in the Black Sea Fleet as a civilian.

“Hooking one of the employees or civilian specialists of the fleet for Ukrainian intelligence is a great success. But I want to note that the Russian special services are conducting huge counter-intelligence work, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

The detention of the Russian woman proves that “a large-scale espionage war” is going on against Russia, Belik is convinced.

Spying for Kiev

The FSB has previously detained Russians who were recruited by Ukrainian intelligence. So, in November, in the Rostov region, a soldier of the Southern Military District was detained, who is suspected of working for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"According to reports, the specified serviceman, fulfilling the task of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, purposefully collected secret military information regarding the Armed Forces of Russia, the diversion of which abroad could harm the defense of the state," the ministry said in a statement.

And in February 2018, a citizen of Ukraine Konstantin Davydenko was detained in Simferopol. The FSB noted that he collected information about the Russian Guard, and then forwarded it to Ukraine.

“The specified person purposefully collected and transmitted to Ukrainian special services secret state information about the activities of units and formations of the Federal Service of the National Guard of the Russian Federation and regarding employees of the Federal Security Service, the diversion of which abroad could harm the security of the state,” the department said.

Since we are talking about a foreign citizen, a criminal case was initiated not under the article on treason, but under Art. 276 of the Criminal Code (espionage). He fully pleaded guilty and repented; he was sentenced to 10.5 years in a maximum security colony. However, in October of this year, his term was reduced.

“Change: commute the sentence to 7 years in prison, the rest of the sentence to remain unchanged,” RIA Novosti quoted the judge as saying.

His lawyer Dmitry Dinze said the court took into account Davydenko’s health problems - he has a suspicion of diabetes. He also allegedly supported the investigation and had positive characteristics.

According to Dinze, his client has been included in the new list on the exchange of citizens between Russia and Ukraine. The first such exchange took place on September 7 in the format "35 to 35". It became possible thanks to an agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.

“The Ukrainian Embassy in Russia confirmed to me that Davydenko is on the exchange list,” Dinze said, noting that he did not know who else was in it.

There were cases when employees of the Black Sea Fleet became defendants. So, in September 2017, Black Sea Fleet major Dmitry Dolgopolov and his common-law spouse Anna Sukhonosova were detained for espionage in favor of Ukraine. According to the agency, Sukhonosova was recruited by Kiev, after which she attracted Dolgopolov to cooperation.

In February, the court sent Dolgopolov to the colony for 10 years, and his wife for 9.

“By a court decision, Dolgopolov was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a sentence in a maximum security penal colony, Sukhonosov to 9 years in prison in a maximum security penal colony,” the FSB reports to TASS. “During the trial, they fully pleaded guilty and repented of their deeds.”