VLADIKAVKAZ, January 17. /TASS/. A citizen of a CIS country has been detained on the Russian border with Georgia on suspicion of spying for Ukraine, the press service of the Federal Security Service’s North Ossetia Directorate said on Tuesday.

"The Federal Security Service’s department for the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania has exposed the illegal activities of a 28-year-old national of a CIS country, who was involved in espionage. The suspect was detained when crossing the border via the Verkhny Lars checkpoint," it said.

Chats in the Telegram messenger app on his phone revealed that he was sharing data about the location of Russian forces with the Ukrainian side by means of sending photos and videos.

A criminal case on espionage charges (article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code) was opened.