One tracked tank repairs, one marked artillery, one aimed bombs at civilians—all three got 15 years
Ukraine says two of the men came to Russian intelligence's notice through their own comments in chat groups, and the third through a relative working for Moscow's domestic security service.
On 26 August, a Ukrainian court sentenced three Russian agents to 15 years each for aiding in Russian strikes targeting Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) uncovered these agents between spring 2025 and March 2026. They were recruited to pinpoint military sites or civilian targets in the eastern region. The court deemed their actions as treason committed under martial law.
The SBU did not disclose the specific strikes enabled by the men. Russian tactics involve manipulating Ukrainian civilians to serve as spotters for their bombings, often through Telegram job and drug channels, forged summonses, relatives in occupied areas, and promises of financial gain. Since 2022, the SBU has initiated over 3,800 treason investigations, indicating a much larger caseload.
The first convict was an armor repair base employee in Kramatorsk sector, discovered by his Russian-registered brother. He recorded repair shop locations to potentially aid Russian forces. The second was an unemployed resident of Dobropillia, recruited via anti-Ukrainian remarks on Telegram, and charged with directing 1.5-ton guided bombs at fortified areas and artillery positions.
The third agent, a Kostiantynivka resident, was exposed by SBU military counterintelligence after offering assistance through pro-Kremlin Telegram channels. He targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure with guided aerial bombs and small drones. All three received the same 15-year prison sentence, a standard penalty for similar cases in Ukrainian courts.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
