An unemployed man from Derhachi, near Kharkiv, was arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) for taking pictures of military positions under orders from a Russian woman he met through a dating chat. The man, who holds pro-Russian views, was approached by a Russian special service officer pretending to be a citizen on Telegram.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office revealed that the woman, posing as a journalist, acted as a liaison between the man and the Russian special services. The man collected information on Ukrainian military locations and equipment, intending to aid targeted missile strikes on Derhachi.
The SBU caught the man red-handed while photographing Ukrainian troop movements. Conversations between the man and the alleged Russian woman were recovered, where she pressured him for photos. If convicted, the man faces eight years in prison.
This incident highlights the dangers of online manipulation and espionage, showing how easily individuals can be coerced into betraying their own country for false romantic interests.