On Monday, the Ukrainian Security Agency announced the detention of a woman accused of assisting Russia in planning an attack against President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to a flood-affected region.
According to the security agency, the woman was gathering intelligence to determine the route of Zelensky’s visit to the southern region of Mykolaiv.
A blurred image of the woman, detained by masked security personnel in a kitchen, was released along with some handwritten notes and phone messages related to military activities.
In the past, several pro-Russian Ukrainians have been accused of passing information to support Moscow’s army.
In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky revealed that the head of the State Security Administration had briefed him on “operations against traitors.”
He visited the Mykolaiv region in June after it was hit by floods resulting from a breach in the Kahovka Dam. He also visited the area in July after it was shelled.
The security agency confirmed that Ukraine was aware of the plot early on and took additional security measures during Zelensky’s visit to the region.
The woman in question was allegedly aiding Russia in preparing for an “intensive airstrike on the Mykolaiv region.” She sought to obtain data on the locations of electronic warfare systems and ammunition depots.
The State Security Agency stated that its officers continued to monitor her to gather more information about her Russian trainers and objectives.
They subsequently arrested the woman “in the act” as she attempted to pass intelligence to Russian intelligence agencies.
The woman was residing in the small southern town of Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region and had previously worked in a store at a military base there.
She reportedly took photographs of military sites and attempted to gather information through her personal contacts in the area.
The woman is now facing charges of unauthorized dissemination of information about military movements and forces, with a possible prison sentence of up to 12 years.