Ukraine's Security Service detains 18-year-old man who helped adjust Russian attack on Kyiv on 24 May

The counterintelligence unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has caught a Russian asset who assisted in adjusting one of Russia's largest attacks on Kyiv on the night of 23-24 May. The attack injured 91 people and killed two.

lunedì 25 maggio 2026 New tab

TL;DRAI

Ukraine's Security Service detained an 18-year-old Kyiv resident who marked military transport routes on Google Maps and documented strike damage to guide Russian targeting during the May 23-24 attack (90 missiles, 600 drones, 2 killed, 91 injured). The case highlights how adversarial intelligence operations increasingly exploit civilian recruitment via social platforms like Telegram, with minimal tradecraft required from the asset side.

408 words~2 min read

The young man. Photo: Prosecutor’s Office

Source: SSU; Ruslan Kravchenko, Prosecutor General of Ukraine

Details: The SSU said the suspect was detained the day after the attack on the capital as he was conducting further reconnaissance near a Ministry of Defence facility and gathering information on the consequences of the Russian strikes.

Ukraine's Security Service detains 18-year-old man who helped adjust Russian attack on Kyiv on 24 May

Ukraine's Security Service detains 18-year-old man who helped adjust Russian attack on Kyiv on 24 May

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