Ukrainian Soldier Suspected of Passing Troop Positions to Russia

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) said on Monday, Oct. 26, that it had detained a serviceman suspected of passing information on Ukrainian troop positions in the southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to Russia. The bureau said Russian forces used the information to direct strikes that wounded Ukrainian troops and damaged military equipment.The DBR’s statement says the man was drafted in late 2024. After several months of service and training, he left his unit without authorization and hid in southern Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Investigators allege that he later agreed to work for Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in exchange for money. He gathered information on the movement and locations of Ukrainian units, their weapons and military equipment, then passed it to Russian handlers.Suspect allegedly tried to return to serviceRussian forces used the information to strike Ukrainian positions, wounding troops and damaging equipment, the DBR said. The bureau did not give a casualty figure or identify the units or equipment involved.The suspect later sought to return to military service to gain access to more information, the DBR said. Investigators and military counterintelligence officers from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained him.Suspect faces possible life sentenceThe serviceman was formally notified of suspicion of wartime treason under Article 111(2) and leaving his unit without authorization during martial law under Article 407(5) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. A court ordered him held in custody, the DBR said. He faces up to life imprisonment if convicted. Other Topics of Interest Putin Says Russia Is ‘Ready’ for War With Europe, Warns There Would Be No Winners He dismissed the prospect of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia by 2030, saying it was “hardly possible.” The bureau said the operation was carried out with assistance from the Military Law Enforcement Service. The Kherson Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the Southern Region is overseeing the case.The suspect’s name has not been released. The allegations have not been tested in court, and he is presumed innocent unless convicted.The case follows other investigations into alleged Russian efforts to obtain information about Ukrainian military positions. In June, the SBU said it detained a deserter in Zaporizhzhia who allegedly mapped potential targets and sent their locations to an FSB handler. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.