Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s government has arrested hundreds of citizens for their involvement in espionage | Photo: EFE/EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN
The Federal Security Service of the Russian government (FSB) reported on Monday (28) the arrest of a former employee of the American consulate in Vladivostok who “passed on specific information about the war in Ukraine to the United States”.
According to the statement, citizen Robert Zhonov “distributed documents from September 2022 to the day of his arrest about Russia’s special military operation” in the enemy country.
Confidential information included the difficulty of recruiting young Russians for military service, the army’s plan of action and analyzes of the Putin government’s popularity.
The security agency said the former officer “rendered the service” to two American diplomats, Jeffrey Sullin and David Bernstein, and received a “material reward” for doing so.
According to the AFP news agency, the Russian citizen now faces charges of “confidential cooperation with a foreign government,” which could result in a prison sentence of up to eight years.
On the other hand, in August alone, Ukraine announced two arrests of suspected Russian agents accused of providing Moscow intelligence with information about possible military targets in the southern region of the country and attempting to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Infographics Gazeta do Povo[Clique para ampliar]