Ukraine's Security Service catch Chinese spies trying to steal secret missile system documents
Illustrative photo: Ukraine's Security Service detained Chinese spies who wanted to steal secret documentation of Neptune anti-ship missile systems (ssu.gov.ua)
Counterintelligence agents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have detained two Chinese citizens in Kyiv who attempted to steal classified documentation related to Ukraine's Neptune anti-ship missile system, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reports.
Details
One of the spies turned out to be a 24-year-old former student of a technical university in Kyiv. He remained in the Ukrainian capital after being expelled in 2023 due to poor academic performance.
The other figure is the father of the former student, who resides in China but traveled to Ukraine from time to time to personally coordinate his son's espionage activities.
According to the investigation, the former student was tasked with obtaining technical documentation for the production of Ukrainian Neptune systems. To do this, he planned to recruit a Ukrainian citizen who had access to the development of advanced weapons for Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Photo: SBU detained Chinese spies attempting to steal classified missile systems documentation (t.me/SBUkr)
"Counterintelligence of the SBU exposed the spy at an early stage of his intelligence activity and caught him red-handed while receiving classified documents. The next stage was the arrest of his father, who was supposed to transfer the secret information to Chinese intelligence services," the Security Service of Ukraine added.
During the searches, phones used by both individuals to coordinate their espionage activities were seized.
What spies face
Both Chinese citizens have been charged under Part 1, Article 114 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - espionage. They face up to 15 years in prison.
Neptune
The Neptune is a Ukrainian medium-range anti-ship missile system developed by the Luch State Design Bureau. The system was officially adopted into service in 2020. Its core missile, the R-360, has a range of up to 300 km and is capable of striking both surface and certain land targets.
The missile system gained fame after destroying the Russian missile cruiser Moskva in April 2022 - the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
RBC-Ukraine also previously reported that in May, during a special operation, the SBU detained two agents working under the supervision of a Hungarian intelligence officer.
