18-year-old from Kyiv detained for high treason; allegedly helped Russia in major attack

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has detained an 18-year-old resident of Kyiv, accusing him of transmitting information to Russia that aided one of the largest aerial attacks on the capital on May 24. The suspect was apprehended just a day after the bombings while allegedly conducting further reconnaissance near a building belonging to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

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The suspect was detained the day after the bloody bombing of the capital, while carrying out further reconnaissance near a building of the Ministry of Defense and assessing the consequences of enemy attacks.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the teenager intended to send the gathered information directly to his Russian contacts to facilitate further attacks on Kyiv. Investigators claim the suspect was recruited through Telegram by Russian services after seeking "easy money." His initial task reportedly involved monitoring areas on the outskirts of Kyiv and marking routes used for transporting Ukrainian military equipment on Google Maps.

The SBU stated that this activity served as a "test mission." Subsequently, the young man was allegedly tasked with documenting the effects of a combined attack on Kyiv and relaying this information to the Russian side. Security service officials reported documenting the moment the suspect approached a Ministry of Defense building to assess the damage from the bombardments.

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The suspect intended to send the information obtained directly to his contacts in Russia for the preparation of new attacks on Kyiv.

During a search of the suspect's property, investigators seized a mobile phone containing reports prepared for the Russian side, including detailed descriptions of the attack's impact. The teenager is being investigated for high treason under martial law, as stipulated by Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. He has been placed in pretrial detention and faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment and confiscation of his assets.

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The suspect was recruited by Russian services after he was looking for quick ways to earn money on Telegram channels.

The report comes in the wake of a massive aerial assault on Ukraine on the night of May 24, which involved nearly 700 aerial weapons launched from land, sea, and air, primarily targeting Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities reported that approximately 300 targets were damaged, including nearly 150 residential buildings.

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The Ukrainian security service claims to have documented the moment the suspect approached a Ministry of Defense building to analyze the damage caused by the bombardments.