The Security Service of Ukraine detained spies planning attacks on locations housing Ukrainian F-16 aircraft.

Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine apprehended two residents of Poltava region who assisted the Russians in preparing missile strikes on airfields housing F-16 fighters. This was reported on Tuesday, January 28, by the press service of the SBU.

The detainees are two men aged 21 and 22 from Kremenchuk in the Poltava region. SBU employees uncovered them while they were photographing the takeoff of an F-16 fighter near one of the military airfields. It has been established that they were recruited by an employee of the Russian FSB.

At the behest of the Russian intelligence service, the spies were tasked with discovering and relaying the coordinates of airfields and aviation infrastructure objects in Ukraine to the occupiers. Additionally, the detainees were supposed to send the occupiers a photo report detailing the equipment stationed at each site.

To achieve this, the Russian spies planned to travel across five regions of Ukraine, intending to rent accommodations in each to observe the designated objects over several days.

“SBU employees exposed both agents at the initial stage of hostile reconnaissance, documented their unsuccessful visits to several regions, and apprehended them while photographing F-16 fighters. The SBU also implemented comprehensive measures to secure the locations of Defense Forces,” the SBU reported.

During the arrest, the men had mobile phones confiscated, containing evidence of their collaboration with the occupiers.

They have been charged with treason committed under martial law (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The maximum penalty under the article is life imprisonment and confiscation of property. Currently, the suspects are in custody without the possibility of bail.