This is the moment a man suspected of being a Kremlin agent is arrested after allegedly infiltrating the Ukrainian military to spy for Russia.
Ukrainian intelligence said that the man, a resident of Bakhmut who has not been named, had been ordered by Russian military intelligence (the GRU) to spy on Ukraine before the full-scale invasion on 24th February last year had even begun.
They said that the alleged spy was then ordered to infiltrate the Ukrainian military and to provide Russia with information about the size of Ukraine’s army and what weapons they had.
They also said that the alleged spy had attempted to identify the bases of Ukraine’s air defence systems and the latest Western weapons.
The footage reportedly shows the suspected spy being arrested by the Ukrainian authorities.
He can be seen being handcuffed before being half marched, half carried to a waiting vehicle.
The footage was obtained from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Thursday, 1st June, along with a statement saying: “Military counterintelligence and investigators of the Security Service exposed another traitor as a result of a multi-stage special operation in the frontline areas of Ukraine.
“The attacker turned out to be a resident of Bakhmut, who was recruited by a representative of the 72nd Intelligence Center of the Military Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (better known as the GRU), Mykyta Klimovsky, even before the start of the full-scale invasion.
“After 24th February last year, the Russian gave his agent the first intelligence task – to inform the aggressor about the consequences of airstrikes on the Ukrainian city.
“The occupiers were also interested in the exact coordinates of bridge crossings in Bakhmut and its surroundings.
“Subsequently, the traitor received the next task from the Russian military intelligence – to arrive in the Dnipropetrovsk region and mobilise to the ranks of the Defence Forces.
“After enlisting in one of the military units of the Armed Forces, the enemy agent collected information about the number of personnel and available weapons in the units.
“The person involved also gave the aggressor information about possible visits to the garrison by representatives of the higher command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“In this regard, information on the preparation of possible sabotage against the officials of the Armed Forces is being checked.
“In addition, the attacker tried to identify the bases of the Ukrainian air defence system and the latest Western weapons.
“However, military counter-intelligence and SBU investigators worked ahead of time – they exposed the traitor in a timely manner, documented the criminal actions and detained him while trying to pass intelligence to the Russian special services.
“It was established that their accomplice used the Telegram messenger to communicate with the military intelligence of the Russian Federation.
“During the searches, two mobile phones were found in the suspect’s possession, one of which he used only to communicate with his ‘supervisor’ from the GRU.
“On the basis of the collected evidence, SBU investigators informed the detainee of suspicion under part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (treason committed under martial law).
“He is currently in custody. An investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. The perpetrator faces life imprisonment.
“The special operation was conducted under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 463rd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 1st June 2023, Russia had lost about 208,370 personnel, 3,804 tanks, 7,478 armoured combat vehicles, 3,474 artillery units, 575 multiple launch rocket systems, 333 air defence systems, 313 warplanes, 298 helicopters, 3,131 drones, 1,107 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,239 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 458 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that negotiating peace may need to take priority over ensuring Russian President Vladimir Putin goes on trial for war crimes.
Speaking in Bratislava, Macron said: “If in a few months to come, you have a window for negotiation with the existing Russian political power, the question you will have is an arbitrage between a trial and a negotiation.
“And you will have to negotiate with the leaders you have, de facto, even if the day after you will have to judge them in front of international justice.
He added: “Otherwise you can put yourselves just in an impossible situation where you say ‘I want you to go to jail but you are the only ones I can negotiate with’.”
The French President also said that NATO should offer Ukraine “tangible and credible” security guarantees, adding that it was in the interests of Western powers to do so as Ukraine “is today protecting Europe”.
NATO members are set to meet in Lithuania in July to discuss Ukraine’s membership in the alliance.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has said that a new USD 300 million arms package for Ukraine should not be used for attacks inside Russia.
He said: “We have been very clear with the Ukrainians privately – we’ve certainly been clear publicly – that we do not support attacks inside Russia.”
Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for the German government, has said that Ukraine has the right to attack Russian territory as this qualifies as self-defence.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said that Russia does not plan to declare martial law following Tuesday’s drone attack on Moscow.
The head of Russia’s notorious Wagner mercenary organisation, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has reportedly said that he has asked prosecutors to look into “crimes” that may have been committed by senior Russian defence officials prior to and during the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has claimed to have destroyed Ukraine’s last major warship, the Yuri Olefirenko, in the port of Odesa. Ukraine has not commented.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that the UK is Moscow’s “eternal enemy”.
He added that any British officials who had facilitated the war in Ukraine could be considered legitimate targets.
