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Russian security service detains Ukrainian citizen over espionage charges

Roman Sushchenko was allegedly collecting data on the Russian military and National Guards

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained Ukrainian citizen Roman Sushchenko on suspicion of espionage, an FSB source told TASS on Monday.

"The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has detained an officer of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Sushchenko Roman Vladimirovich while conducting an espionage operation in Moscow," the source said.

"The Ukrainian national was purposefully collecting information on the Russian Armed Forces and National Guard, constituting state secrets, the disclosure of which could have undermined Russia’s defense capabilities," the FSB source stated.

The FSB has initiated a criminal case against Sushchenko over espionage charges. The investigation is currently underway.

Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court has authorized the arrest of Sushchenko, the court spokesperson Yekaterina Krasnova told TASS.

"By court decision, Sushchenko has been arrested for two months, that is till Noverber 30," she said.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has not yet reacted on the FSB’s statement. The Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform has reported that the detainee was their own correspondent in France. The news agency claims that Sushchenko was in Moscow on vacation.