Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Friday that it arrested a Romanian citizen on suspicion of spying for Ukraine by sharing the locations of Russian air defense systems.
The unnamed man is accused of collecting and transmitting information about air defense sites in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi to Ukrainian intelligence services in the summer of 2024.
In exchange, Ukrainian intelligence services allegedly promised to help the Romanian man leave Russia safely and allow him to join the Ukrainian military.
Footage released by the FSB and shared by Russian media showed the man being detained and interrogated. In the video, he appeared to identify his alleged Ukrainian handler by name and describe the location of an air defense system in Sochi.
“His name was Volodymyr, he’s a senior officer in Ukrainian intelligence,” the man said in English, with his face blurred. “I remember the crossroads where [the air defense system] was. Later, I located it on maps and sent him the information.”
It was not immediately possible to verify the FSB’s claims, and it remains unclear whether the man was speaking under duress.
The Romanian citizen, born in 2002, has been charged with espionage and faces up to 20 years in prison under Russia’s Criminal Code.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
