A long time before the invasion Ukraine, Russia had composed a network of secret agents to help clear the way for its forces. These agents were under deep infiltration than previously expected, according to a study by British Reuters news agency.
On the first day of the invasion – 24 February – Russian armoured vehicles reached Chernobyl NPP. Soldiers of 169th Ukrainian National Guard Unit, who were tasked with defending the nuclear power plant, laid down their arms in a couple of hours without fighting, allowing Russian forces to capture the nuclear power plant, the fuel warehouse and an important bridgehead on the road to Kyiv.
Reuters study uncovered that Russia’s accomplishment in Chernobyl was not a coincidence, but part of Kremlin’s secret operations in Ukraine.
Reuters interviewed five people that were informed of Kremlin’s war preparations. They told the news agency that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s circles were confident that with help from those secret agents Russia will succeed with a small contingent of troops and only a couple of days to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration to surrender, flee or capitulate.
Interviews of dozens of officials in Russia and Ukraine and analysis of court documents and investigators’ reports in regards to the behaviour of the workers of Chernobyl NPP told Reuters that the infiltration was much deeper than what public reports previously suggested.
«Aside from external enemies, we, unfortunately, have internal enemies, and this enemy is no less dangerous,» said Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council secretary Oleksiy Danilov in an interview.
He said at the time of the invasion Russia had agents in Ukraine’s defence, security and law enforcement sectors. Danilov refused to mention any names, but he did admit these traitors must be «neutralised» at any cost.
Court documents and testimonies mentioned in Reuters’ study indicate the role played by the chief of security of Chernobyl NPP Valentin Viter, who is under arrest and under investigation for leaving his post. Viter is also suspected of treason.
Viter told investigator that on the day of the invasion he spoke on the phone with the commander of the National Guard unit and recommended him not to put the men at risk.
A source informed of Kremlin’s invasion plan told Reuters that Russian agents were sent to Chernobyl last year to bribe officials and prepare a bloodless capture of the nuclear power plant.
Reuters could not independently verify this claim. Ukrainian National Bureau of Investigation reported that an investigation of high-ranking intelligence official Andriy Naumov continues. He is suspected of treason and handing security secrets of Chernobyl NPP to a foreign country.
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Sources confirmed reports of western intelligence services that Kremlin was preparing hotel owner Oleg Tsarev to become a puppet leader of the government in Kyiv. According to those sources, Ukrainian opposition politician Viktor Medvedchuk would play an important role as well. He is believed to have had an encrypted phone line with Kremlin.
Russia’s plans to take over Kyiv failed, however. One of the reasons, according to sources, was the inability of secret agents to complete their tasks. Russian secret agent network only managed to sow distrust in Ukraine and highlight the weak points of the Ukrainian Security Service.