Ukrainian Soldier Targeted in Suspected Russian FSB Operation

Ukrainian investigators suspect a sophisticated Russian intelligence operation after a soldier was found unconscious in his apartment, initially believed to be a suicide attempt. The soldier, Mykyta Orlykivskyi, 23, was discovered with a bottle of alcohol and a knife, but his family insists he was tricked.

His aunt, Tetiana Apalko, told The Times that Orlykivskyi had been communicating with a woman he met on Telegram since April. The woman, who used the name "Rodnaya" (meaning "dear" or "beloved" in Russian), claimed to be 30 years old and living in Kharkiv, fabricating a story about her apartment being destroyed and her brother fighting in the war.

Orlykivskyi, who was not using dating apps, was flattered by her advances. The woman sent him AI-generated images depicting them together in a British forest, leveraging a photo he sent of himself in uniform with a New Zealand flag patch from military training in the UK. Investigators believe this was proof for Russian security services that he was a soldier.

Over two months, they exchanged messages and video calls, bonding over shared interests. Apalko noted a positive change in her nephew, believing the relationship was beneficial. However, investigators now suspect the woman, acting on behalf of Russian intelligence, lured him into a deadly trap. The case is being treated as having hallmarks of an FSB operation.

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Ako je dobra djevojka, zašto ne bi razgovarao s njom? Čak sam rekla: "Ako je granatiranje tako strašno, zašto ne bi došla živjeti neko vrijeme kod nas?"