Former Ukrainian soldier suspected of instructing Russia to raid Kharkov

“The suspect worked for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), sending information so that the enemy could plan to damage the infrastructure of one of the cities near the front line in Kharkov province”, Security Service Ukraine (SBU) announced on April 25. If convicted, the former soldier could be sentenced to 8 years in prison.

The SBU said that the Ukrainian veteran cooperated with the FSB before being discharged and was encouraged to do so by his parents living in the Russian-controlled area.

Ukrainian security arrested the veteran when he went to the front line area in the direction of Kupyansk to try to reach the Russian military position. The SBU said that he planned to go to the FSB branch in Lugansk, one of four Moscow provinces that announced annexation despite Kiev’s objections.

FSB has not commented on the above information.

Russia has been attacking Kharkov almost every day in recent weeks, mainly focusing on the enemy’s air defense positions. In addition to missiles, rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Russian forces have recently used glide bombs and flying bombs with higher destructive power in bombardments of Kharkov.

Russian officials on April 22 said that the country’s military shot down a television tower more than 240 meters high in Kharkov city, a structure containing communication antennas and equipment to coordinate air defense activities. This is the 5th tallest TV tower in Ukraine and the tallest structure in Kharkiv city.

Ukrainian military commanders believe that Russia will continue to raid and destroy key infrastructure and military facilities in Kharkov province. They predict that Russia may launch an offensive campaign in the direction of Kharkov, but confirm that it will take the enemy several years to control Ukraine’s second largest city.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP)