---
title: "Ukraine detains Russian 'mole' in special forces, security service says"
description: "KYIV, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service said on Friday it had detained a special operations forces unit commander accused of disclosing plans of operations behind enemy lines to Russia's GRU military intelligence."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Ukraine war"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-15-ukraine-detains-russian-mole-in-special-forces-security-service-says/"
published: "2024-11-15T12:51:18"
updated: "2024-11-15T12:51:19"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 143
---

# Ukraine detains Russian 'mole' in special forces, security service says

> KYIV, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service said on Friday it had detained a special operations forces unit commander accused of disclosing plans of operations behind enemy lines to Russia's GRU military intelligence.

By Reuters · Published 15 November 2024, 14:51 SAST · Updated 15 November 2024, 14:51 SAST

## Key points
- In a plot twist straight out of a spy novel, Ukraine's SBU has unveiled a lieutenant colonel who moonlighted as a Russian informant, feeding intel on special forces operations that could have turned the tide in the ongoing conflict—talk about a betrayal worthy of a lifetime sentence!
- Ukrainian SBU reveals a lieutenant colonel was recruited as a spy for Russia, targeting special forces operations.
- The mole provided intelligence on Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance efforts in southern Ukraine.
- Russian forces intended to use this information to neutralize Ukrainian special forces on the front lines.
- The suspect, activated by Russian military intelligence, faces life imprisonment for treason, with support from Ukraine's military leadership.

## Content

"The aggressor was most interested in intelligence on sabotage and reconnaissance raids by Ukrainian special forces behind the front line in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimean directions," SBU said via the Telegram messaging app.

The "mole", whose rank corresponded to lieutenant colonel, had access to information on planned routes, weapons and targets, according to the statement.

Russian forces planned to use the intelligence to eliminate special forces soldiers on the front line and in the Russian-occupied parts of southern Ukraine.

SBU said Russia's military intelligence "activated" the unit commander in the spring of this year but that he was recruited before Moscow's [full-scale invasion](https://www.reuters.com/topic/event/ukraine-crisis/) in February 2022 through his acquaintances in Russia.

The security service said that Ukraine's top military leadership aided with the case and the suspect could face life in prison on treason charges.

(Reporting by Anastasiia MalenkoEditing by Ros Russell)