Undercover scandal: Lukashenko-linked agent attempted to penetrate Ukraine's intelligence service
Illustrative photo: Arrest of a spy (Getty Images)
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has detained a Belarusian spy in Kyiv who was working for the KGB and attempted to infiltrate Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) to collect classified information and recruit agents.
The SBU said the 35-year-old Belarusian national operated under the cover of journalism and tried to use her professional contacts to expand her network among Ukrainian politicians, military personnel, and foreign diplomats.
Sources in Ukraine's security services told RBC-Ukraine that the suspect is Inna Kardash.
Investigators believe Kardash had been working for the Belarusian KGB since 2015 under the guise of journalistic activity. In reality, she attempted to gain access to the HUR, gathered information about Belarusians and Russians fighting in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and collected intelligence on Chinese diplomats in Kyiv.
During Russia's full-scale invasion, her handler instructed her to travel to an EU country for a briefing. There, she reportedly received tasks to collect information on Belarusians and Russians assisting Ukraine and to establish informal contacts with representatives of the Chinese Embassy for intelligence purposes.
After returning to Kyiv, the spy tried to secure a position in a HUR staff unit, where she came under surveillance by the agency’s internal security.
Arrest operation
The SBU and HUR carried out a long-term counterintelligence operation, documenting all of the suspect’s actions and feeding disinformation to the Belarusian intelligence service through her. As a result, the hostile agency received only controlled information, while attempts to recruit potential agents were fully documented.
A 35-year-old Belarusian, Inna Kardash, attempted to infiltrate Ukraine's military intelligence to collect classified information and recruit agents (Photo: t.me/DIUkraine)
A 35-year-old Belarusian, Inna Kardash, attempted to infiltrate Ukraine's military intelligence to collect classified information and recruit agents (Photo: t.me/DIUkraine)
A 35-year-old Belarusian, Inna Kardash, attempted to infiltrate Ukraine's military intelligence to collect classified information and recruit agents (Photo: t.me/DIUkraine)
A 35-year-old Belarusian, Inna Kardash, attempted to infiltrate Ukraine's military intelligence to collect classified information and recruit agents (Photo: t.me/DIUkraine)
After gathering sufficient evidence, the SBU detained the suspect near her residence. Officers seized a smartphone and a voice recorder containing recordings of classified information. She has been formally charged under Part 1 of Article 114 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (espionage).
If found guilty in court, Inna Kardash faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The special operation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Other spy arrests
Recently, a woman from Kostiantynivka was sentenced to 15 years in prison for high treason after passing intelligence on Ukrainian Armed Forces positions to Russia's FSB using a child's tablet.
In addition, the SBU recently detained an agent group of Russia’s military intelligence that was preparing bomber drones for attacks on Odesa from within Ukraine.
Earlier, on January 6, a Russian intelligence agent who helped adjust enemy strikes on Kramatorsk and surrounding areas was also sentenced to the maximum penalty—15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
