Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities have arrested a lawyer accused of acting as an agent for Russian military intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) announced. The lawyer, who was not named, reportedly recruited operatives and provided legal defense for them while conveying sensitive information to Russia.
The SSU detailed how the lawyer first assisted Russian forces by identifying a target spotter for artillery in Ukraine before representing the same individual after their arrest. The association between the lawyer and Russian intelligence began after a meeting in 2015 with GRU officer Vitaliy Naumov on Russian territory.
With the escalation of conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion, the lawyer’s activities expanded. He was involved in seeking out new agents, defending them legally, and transferring crucial information about SSU operatives and ongoing criminal cases to the GRU. He is alleged to have transmitted copies of legal documents directly to Russian intelligence.
The operations carried out by the lawyer were financially incentivized, with payments made through undisclosed channels by Naumov. These services and the lawyer’s betrayal under martial law could lead to severe consequences under the Ukrainian legal system.
His arrest occurred at his residence in Kyiv, where law enforcement also seized communication devices used to coordinate with Russian operatives. Evidence from these devices and others led to charges of high treason under conditions of martial law being brought against him.
Currently held as he awaits trial, the accused faces the possibility of life imprisonment and property confiscation, pending judicial review and determination of his custody status.
Further underscoring the severity of internal threats, the SSU’s recent apprehensions include the director of the Information Systems Support Department at one of Ukraine’s largest banks. Arrested on January 18, he allegedly transferred funds to support the Russian military effort.
The SSU’s continued crackdown on espionage and internal sabotage highlights ongoing security challenges as Ukraine faces both conventional and cyber threats attributed to Russian operatives.
This article was automatically written by OpenAI. The people, facts, circumstances, and story presented may not be accurate. For corrections or to request removal of content, please contact contact@publiclawlibrary.org.