Part 9/12:
This infiltration underscores the extent of Russian penetration within Ukrainian security structures—a serious vulnerability amidst ongoing hostilities. Authorities revealed that the Russian handlers included former Ukrainian officials who had previously participated in suppressing pro-Western protests and had since fled to Moscow.
In a statement, Maluk emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to "self-cleaning" its ranks and counterintelligence efforts. The operation was executed in close coordination with President Zelensky, who was kept fully informed throughout. Ukrainian authorities also manipulated the suspect’s communications to feed disinformation back to Russian intelligence, a counterintelligence strategy designed to mislead Moscow.