In a stunning revelation, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has uncovered a high-stakes espionage case involving one of its own high-ranking officials. According to a statement made by an SBU spokesperson, the individual in question had been passing sensitive information to Russian intelligence agents. This explosive admission comes at a time when Ukraine is already grappling with heightened tensions with Russia, both on the battlefield and in the shadows of intelligence wars.
The accused, who had served as the head of the SBU’s anti-terrorist center since 2016, faces the gravest of charges—high treason. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment. The SBU alleges that the man was recruited by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) as early as 2018. For years, he operated as a so-called “sleeping agent,” a term used to describe spies who remain inactive until they are activated for a specific mission. However, his activities came under scrutiny in December 2024, when Russian handlers reestablished contact with him—unaware that the SBU was already monitoring his every move. This elaborate operation, carried out by Ukraine’s intelligence agency, highlights thecat-and-mouse nature of modern espionage.
The SBU’s statement further reveals that the man’s handlers were former Ukrainian officials who had been involved in suppressing the pro-Western Euromaidan revolution in 2013-2014. After the protests led to the ousting of the then-president Viktor Yanukovych, these individuals fled to Moscow, where they apparentlyันตed to switch sides. Their involvement in this espionage case underscores the deep-seated ties between Ukrainian politics and Russian intelligence, a relationship that has been fraught with tension and betrayal.
In a statement sent to POLITICO, the SBU spokesperson emphasized that this case is part of an ongoing effort to “self-clean” the agency’s ranks. He also disclosed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was kept fully informed of the countersurveillance operation. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Ukraine faces in maintaining loyalty and security within its own institutions, especially as the country remains locked in a bitter conflict with Russia.
The SBU’s ability to uncover this mole within its ranks is a testament to the agency’s growing sophistication and determination to root out threats from within. At the same time, it raises questions about how deeply Russian intelligence has penetrated Ukrainian institutions—a concern that has only intensified since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. As the war drags on, both sides continue to engage in covert operations, with intelligence agencies on both sides working tirelessly to outmaneuver each other.
This case also sheds light on the broader issue of espionage in modern warfare. The use of sleeping agents, double agents, and moles is a reminder that the battlefield is not just physical but also deeply psychological and political. For Ukraine, the ability to identify and neutralize such threats is not only a matter of national security but also a crucial element in its fight for sovereignty and survival. As the conflict with Russia continues to unfold, cases like this serve as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in the invisible war of espionage.
