SSU exposes agent network of russian GRU which included Ukrainian MP
The SSU has exposed an agent network of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the russian federation (aka GRU), which was supposed to help the enemy capture Ukraine.
In particular, the network included MP Andriy Derkach, who, according to the investigation, oversaw creation of a number of private security companies in various regions to use these entities to quickly conquer Ukraine.
At present, at the SSU’s initiative, Prosecutor General has launched a pre-trial investigation against the people’s deputy.
Operational investigation of the case had been ongoing for a long time, but the SSU finally neutralized the network at the beginning of the war, detaining Ihor Kolesnikov, former assistant to the MP. He was covertly cooperating with the GRU and had a call sign Veteran; he was a liaison and financial courier between russian special services and Andriy Derkach.
According to Kolesnikov, Derkach was recruited in 2016. The GRU top officials - department head Igor Kostyukov and his first deputy Vladimir Alekseev- personally worked with Derkach.
The MP received money from the GRU to create private security structures, which the enemy planned to use to capture Ukraine. The GRU allocated USD 3-4 mln every few months to implement their plans. According to the investigation, a significant part of this money was appropriated by Derkach.
After his arrest, Kolesnikov took a plea and told interesting details in his testimony. In May, court sentenced him for high treason. He has told the SSU about the network’s activities and its role in preparing for a full-scale war.
‘When the troops enter and when it’s clear that the cities surrender, these private security companies had to ensure the movement of equipment, sit on the armor with Russian flags, and thus ensure peaceful entry into cities,’ Kolesnikov explains.
Kolesnikov also said that to capture the capital the GRU planned to use two brigades of special forces and special operations forces, which were to invade from Belarus. From there - move quickly to Kyiv, seize the Government Quarter, and convene a viche [people’s council] in the Verkhovna Rada to vote for a new government. However, these plans were completely destroyed by Ukrainian defenders.
The SSU will continue to make every effort to bring to justice all those involved in the activity of this extensive agent network.
