The Security Service of Ukraine (SUB) has detained an air force officer on suspicion of spying for Russia and leaking information about the location of F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets, Reuters reports.
The officer, who has not yet been identified, is a flight instructor with the rank of major. The SUB said in a statement that he is accused of providing Russia with the coordinates of the aircraft’s location, as well as helping to choose strike tactics. The service said that the enemy’s main targets are airfields where American F-16s, French-made Mirage 2000s and Soviet-made Su-24s are located. The major, accused of collaborating with the enemy, is said to have collected information about airfield coordinates, airfield schedules and flight schedules.
Russia has also reportedly been given personnel lists and information on combat tactics.
Moscow regularly carries out strikes on Ukrainian military bases and airfields, especially where weapons supplied by Western countries may be located.
Both the F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters are critical for Ukraine to better defend itself against increasingly powerful Russian attacks.
In July, the SBU also detained two Chinese citizens on suspicion of espionage. They were trying to obtain information about Ukraine’s Neptune anti-ship missile program.
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