Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and as the conflict heads into its fifth year, the battle is not limited to the front lines. Ukrainian intelligence officials are now warning of a growing espionage campaign, with Russian intelligence recruiting Ukrainians to gather sensitive information.
According to a CNN report, Russia’s main intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB), has recruited several Ukrainians who have previously shared information about the location of Ukrainian military personnel and equipment in Pokrovsk, which is considered a strategic center.
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How Ukrainians quietly help Russia
In July 2024, Hrystyná Garkavenková was 19 years old when she walked into her father’s church, went upstairs to a room on the second floor and positioned her cell phone so she could live stream the activities along a nearby road frequently used by military personnel and vehicles heading to and from the Eastern Front. The footage was shared directly with Russian intelligence. The report suggests she communicated with an FSB agent throughout the year, passing on information regarding personnel and equipment.
Speaking to CNN, Garkavenko, who is now serving a 15-year sentence for treason, said: “I wanted to talk to that person more. And just because I wanted to talk to him, I agreed to help him.”
Cases of treason are increasing in Ukraine
Garkavenko is just one of thousands who have been hired to spy on their country by the FSB and other Russian intelligence agencies. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reportedly opened investigations into more than 3,800 cases of high treason since Russia’s invasion began in 2022. So far, around 1,200 people have been convicted and sentenced. According to the report, those convicted face an average of 12 to 13 years in prison; however, some are sentenced to life imprisonment.
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Ivan Kisilevych, who heads the department at the Prosecutor General’s Office, said passing information to Russian intelligence agencies became the most common form of treason during the war.
The SBU said in a statement that the range of tasks carried out by these individuals is very broad, adding that geography does not play a role when it comes to proximity to fighting. It further states: “In frontline areas, we are increasingly detaining agents who collect and transmit information on the movement or positions of the Ukrainian military. In western and central Ukraine, Russian agents are increasingly collecting and leaking information on military facilities, critical infrastructure, and attempting sabotage near thermal power plants, police buildings, and railway lines.”
Why do Ukrainians help Russia?
The report suggests that while some of these individuals are ideologically motivated, for most, money remains the primary motivation. According to the SBU, Russian intelligence services primarily focus on recruiting individuals who are desperate for money, such as the unemployed or people with drug, alcohol or gambling addictions.
“For most, it’s a few hundred dollars or other material benefits… For traitors, it’s easy money. They just get money on their cards without thinking about where or who it’s coming from,” Kisilevych said.
How does Russia recruit Ukrainians?
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According to an SBU counterintelligence officer, Telegram serves as the primary channel for recruiting these individuals. First, intelligence agency agents post ads offering quick and easy money, such as buying a coffee, taking a photo of a coffee shop receipt, then the funds are transferred to a bank card, and so the recruitment process begins.
The official said that over time, recruits are assigned more serious tasks, such as placing cameras near railroad tracks or photographing military objects. He added that if someone tries to back out later, they may face threats or blackmail to force further cooperation.
While the world sees a single conflict, Kyiv is fighting a double battle. It remains to be seen whether there will be an end to the duel in Kyiv.