Russia

Kiev agent detained in Crimea for gathering intel, plotting terror act on railway

TASS English · 2026-08-13

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: A 55-year-old Crimean resident was detained by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) for allegedly gathering intelligence for Ukraine and planning terrorist acts against railway infrastructure. • Why it matters: The case highlights ongoing tensions and espionage activities between Russia and Ukraine, particularly in Crimea, which is a strategically significant region. • What to watch next: The legal proceedings against the detainee, including the investigation into high treason charges, and any potential repercussions for Ukrainian intelligence operations in Crimea.

Kiev agent detained in Crimea for gathering intel, plotting terror act on railway The detainee confessed to gathering information on the deployment of air defense systems and other military facilities© Russian Federal Security Service/TASSMOSCOW, August 13. /TASS/. Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers have detained a Crimean resident who was passing information to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) about air defense operations and military units on the peninsula, as well as planning terrorist attacks against railway infrastructure facilities, the FSB Public Relations Center reported. TASS has compiled the main information available so far. Detention - An agent of the Ukrainian special services who was passing on information about military facilities on the peninsula was detained in Crimea, the FSB Public Relations Center reported. - According to the FSB, a 55-year-old resident of the Bakhchisaray district used the WhatsApp messenger app (owned by Meta, a company recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) to send information to an SBU representative regarding the deployment of military units, military equipment, and the location of air defense systems. - In addition, the man was instructed to prepare acts of sabotage and terrorism at railway infrastructure facilities and to monitor the vehicle of a Russian Defense Ministry service member residing in Sevastopol. - The orders from the Ukrainian special services were not carried out because he was detained. Confession - The detainee confessed to gathering information on the deployment of air defense systems and other military facilities, according to a video of his testimony released by the FSB. - According to the man, starting in 2022, he had been in active contact with an associate who suggested cooperation and asked him to provide information about aircraft and the deployment of air defense systems. - A representative of Ukrainian intelligence services later got in touch with him. - The detainee stated that he promised to help in whatever way possible. - At the same time, the suspect claims that he refused to surveil the vehicle and the individuals identified by the Ukrainian handler. Investigation - The Investigative Department of the FSB branch for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol opened a criminal case under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (high treason). - The court remanded the detainee in custody for two months. Veteran remembers inscription he left on Reichstag in TASS interviewYevgeny Znamensky said that he was proud to have made it "to that lair from his hometown"Read moreUkrainian drone attacks wound 12 DPR residents in one day — republic's headA teenager born in 2011 was injured when a drone attacked a residential building, DPR head Denis Pushilin said Read moreFACTBOX: Putin personally visits Kuril Islands for first timeThe head of state, during his working trip to Iturup, also visited the secondary school named after Hero of Russia Eduard NorpolovRead moreOver 1,000 pigs killed by fire at pig-breeding farm in Trans-Baikal RegionAccording to preliminary data, the fire was caused by a short circuitRead moreLeavitt to leave White House press secretary post before September — TrumpDonald Trump noted that Karoline Leavitt will now be one of his top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican PartyRead moreDrapaty, killing civilians in Novorossiya, Donbass, pledges allegiance to West — expertVitaly Kiselyov noted that Mikhail Drapaty personally issued orders to Ukrainian forces to strike civilian vehicles on the Novorossiya federal highwayRead moreRussia unaware of Zelensky’s proposals to end Ukraine conflict — RyabkovThe Russian deputy foreign minister said the US did not hand over these proposals to Russia via diplomatic channelsRead morePutin thanks Varyag crew for hospitalityThe Russian President shook hands the commanders and ordered "At ease!" to the sailorsRead moreUkrainian MiG-29 fighter jet shot down by friendly fire — defense sourceUkraine’s State Bureau of Investigation opened a criminal probe after the fighter’s crashRead moreNATO Council says Russia 'bears responsibility' for drone incidents in Romania, PolandThe alliance intends to strengthen defenses on its eastern flank "from the Baltic to the Black Sea" and continue providing support to UkraineRead moreRussia slams Yerevan over plans to interrogate WWII veteranIt is hard to find clearer evidence of the moral and spiritual decay that leads to rapprochement with the modern faceless, morally impoverished Europe and fraternization with the neo-Nazi Kiev regime, Maria Zakharova statedRead moreUkrainian Navy command post, port infrastructure hit in new strikes by Russian ForcesThe Russian Armed Forces continue to target Ukrainian Navy facilities and port infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces, the Defense Ministry reportedRead moreGirl injured due to falling drone in Rostov RegionA girl was injured after a drone fell on the Istok recreational center near DonetskRead moreUS NGO calls on Congress to block Turkey’s transfer of cluster munitions to KievDumping obsolete cluster munitions into a conflict creates a humanitarian liability for civilians, Deputy Washington director at Human Rights Watch Nicole Widdersheim notedRead moreUkraine to lose its Western territories sooner or later — PutinIt may not happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, It may take one year, two years, 10 years or 15 years, Russian President saidRead moreUkraine needs 5% of US Patriot missile stockpiles to survive winter — ZelenskyAccording to Vladimir Zelensky, this year Ukraine received 2.5 times fewer interceptor missiles for Patriot systems than in 2025Read moreInflation in Iran to peak at 300% — US President TrumpThe International Monetary Fund expects inflation rate in Iran to reach 69% this yearRead moreBattlegroup Center recon teams spend month deep behind Ukrainian lines undetectedAccording to a reconnaissance rifleman, Russian units moved into areas where Ukrainian soldiers were without armor and were moving freely in the openRead morePetition calling for preserving Russia House submitted to parliament — BSW partyBSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht said earlier that her party had prepared a petition against the demands by some political forces to close the Russia HouseRead moreMinister announces recovery in Russia's economic growth ratesAccording to Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, the recovery in growth rates was first observed in March and is continuing despite persistent external pressureRead moreRussia continues to strike Ukrainian naval forces facilities — Defense MinistryDuring the night, unmanned aerial vehicles struck a command post of the Ukrainian naval forces in the port of Reni, the ministry reportedRead morePutin arrives aboard Varyag missile cruiserPacific Fleet Commander Admiral Viktor Liina reported to the president on the fleet’s ongoing drillsRead moreAll US bases will be seized if Washington uses nuclear weapons against Iran — IRGCBrigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi did not clarify whether the Iranian military would occupy the US bases on its own or with the help of other forcesRead moreDrop in investment levels in early 2026 cannot be described as dramatic — Bank of RussiaThe overall level of investment activity remaining high, said Adviser to Central Bank Governor Kirill Tremasov Read moreOver one million square meters of warehouses damaged in Ukraine — agencyThe Kiev Region accounts for about 750,000 square meters of that numberRead moreSeveral sailors of US aircraft carrier tried to commit suicide — Military TimesThe aircraft carrier has been in service for more than eight months instead of the expected six, and the staff does not know when they will be able to return homeRead moreRussia to resort to measures in response to growing NATO presence in Finland — embassyAccording to a source in the embassy, Russia has repeatedly drawn attention to the detrimental consequences of this policy, and the diplomats are sure that Helsinki are aware of these signalsRead moreRussia has right to attack any ships carrying cargo for enemy — MedvedevThe Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman stressed that Russian armed forces were capable of significantly extending their operations beyond the borders of the Black Sea basinRead moreSpecial military operation to end or be suspended only on Russia's terms — MedvedevThe United Russia party’s Chairman noted that relations with the West will change little after thatRead moreAK-12 rifle more reliable, easier to use than foreign competitors — Kalashnikov CEOThe AK-12 is represented in export markets by the 7.62mm and 5.56mm caliber AK-15 and AK-19 modelsRead moreZelensky's government 'nepotism' paves way for massive corruption — expertIn Ukraine, nepotism in corruption schemes has become a tradition, military expert Vitaly Kiselyov saidRead moreAttempts to escalate situation in Caspian must be thwarted by littoral statesPyotr Shchukin stressed that any attempts by extra-regional forces to bring geopolitical confrontation and military tension into these historically peaceful waters are aimed at undermining the atmosphere of friendship and mutual trustRead moreIN BRIEF: Putin’s statements on Western 'piracy, robbery', groundless Japan’s claimsThe Russian president said the Pacific Fleet’s marines carry out missions in the Pacific Operational Area "boldly, professionally, and heroically"Read moreTrade turnover between Russia, Malaysia gains 13% in 2025 — ministerValery Falkov indicated growing interest in expanding trade ties among both countries' businessesRead moreAttempts to resolve problems in Arctic without Russia to remain futile — MFAAccording to the statement, Russia will continue to use all its foreign policy tools to maintain peace and stability in the regionRead moreRosatom chief proposes projects to develop science, production, exportsAlexey Likhachev highlighted three topics that, in his view, are of fundamental importance, yet the mechanisms for addressing them have not yet been fully establishedRead moreSu-57 constitutes key element for achieving air superiority — Russia’s Air Force CommanderSergey Kobylash stated that during the special military operation, Russian aviation and aviation munitions "reached a qualitatively new level"Read morePress review: NATO boosts Northern Europe presence as Israel blocks Gaza peace effortsTop stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, August 11thRead moreRussia to promptly arrange reception for Witkoff, Kushner — senior diplomatSergey Ryabkov said this issue remains on the radarRead moreClosing Strait of Hormuz to virtually wipe out growth in British economy in 2027 — TVAccording to the analysis, the British economy could face a recession, if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed until springRead moreRussian forces tightening trap for Ukrainian troops in Volchansk after liberating VodyanoeThe Volchansk pocket continues to shrink, military expert Andrey Marochko saidRead moreUS demands info on missile launches from other countries to distract attention — expertAccording to Zhang Junshe, the US seeks to "inject geopolitical rivalry into a multilateral arms control platform"Read moreRussia calls on Caspian littoral states to address Caspian Sea’s receding water levelsRussia’s Charge d’Affaires in Turkmenistan Pyotr Shchukin emphasized that there is currently no single scientific explanation for the causes of the present-day drop in water levelsRead moreUS could face 'bloodbath' if it launches ground operation against Iran — expertMikhail Margelov said there can be a lot of scenariosRead moreRussia’s Battlegroup South eliminates over 100 Ukrainian heavy coptersAccording to the battlegroup’s spokesman Vadim Astafyev, 48 drone communication antennas, 37 ground-based robotic systems, 14 drone control centers, and three launch sites were also wiped outRead moreNearly 40 shelling attacks by Ukrainian troops reported in DPR in past dayTwelve civilians, including a teenager, were reportedly woundedRead moreRussian forces advance 1 km north of Ustinovka in Kharkov Region — expertEarlier, Andrey Marochko said that Russian forces have established control over Ustinovka and drove Ukrainian troops eight kilometers from the border with the Belgorod RegionRead moreBaba-Yaga drone number one target for snipers, Kalashnikov rifles — Kalashnikov CEOAlan Lushnikov noted that the role and place of snipers in armed conflict were constantly evolvingRead moreBattlegroup Center snipers using special rounds to penetrate enemy UAV armorSnipers work in close coordination with drone operators, which allows them to act proactively and know in advance where the Baba-Yaga is coming fromRead moreDamaged schools, dead, injured in southern Russia: consequences of drone attacksAir defense forces on duty intercepted and destroyed 502 Ukrainian UAVs over eight Russian regionsRead moreJD Vance personally asks Kiev to stop strikes on CPC infrastructure — newspaperAccording to the Financial Times, the US vice president conveyed Washington’s request in a phone call with Vladimir Zelensky on July 31Read moreExpert says fuel shortage being observed in UkraineFreight and insurance costs have skyrocketed, said Sergey Kuyun, head of the consulting firm A-95 Read moreNovorossiysk declares state of emergency after Ukrainian drone attackAccording to the latest reports, a secondary school, a sports school and a college had been damaged in the attackRead moreNATO says begins to reduce contingent in KosovoThe alliance's spokesperson Allison Hart did not provide any numerical data on the scale and timing of the reductionsRead moreMagnitude 5.4 earthquake hits KashmirNo casualties or damage were immediately reportedRead moreYabloko receives Supreme Court’s reasoned decision for removal from electionsThe court session lasted more than nine hoursRead moreRussia remains top oil supplier to India, China in June — OPECRussia supplied around 2.2 mbd of oil to India in JuneRead moreEU wary of 'Trojan horse' as it considers faster enlargement — mediaAccording to the sources, the European Commission was drawing up revised rules for new members, which will be presented to EU leaders at a European Council meeting on October 15Read morePolitico says Zelensky 'fumbled' Belgrade trip as Kosovo remarks cause stirThe publication noted that Albania had reacted sharply to the statement as wellRead moreIN BRIEF: What we know about release of American Robert Gilman, convicted in RussiaRobert Gilman was detained in 2022 at the Voronezh railway station after being involved in a drunken brawl on the Sukhum-Moscow trainRead moreUS spends $533 mln on shell plant that produces nothingMoscow has repeatedly stressed that Western arms supplies to Kiev and assistance in training Ukrainian servicemen only prolong the conflict and do not change the situation on the battlefieldRead moreWest Nile Fever cases imported to Russia from Thailand, Mali, CAR in 2026No fatalities linked to West Nile Fever have been reported this yearRead moreUkrainian armed forces using banned chemical weapons — US publicationSmall Wars Journal said that instances of the use of these special weapons have been repeatedly documented during the conflictRead moreGeorgia hurts itself by saying no to diplomatic relations with Russia — Abkhazian officialSergey Shamba stressed that Abkhazia would only be happy if relations between Russia and Georgia improvedRead moreKiev confirms limitation of data on Russian missile launches against targets in UkraineUkraine has been experiencing a shortage of interceptorsRead moreWest always wanted to 'cancel' Russia, but now it's doing it brazenly — MedvedevThe politician noted that as soon as the special military operation had begun, it had come out in an absolutely cynical, undisguised, monstrous and even perverted formRead moreUS forces in complete control over Strait of Hormuz — President TrumpAccording to the US leader, Iran has "no Navy and no Air Force" Read moreRussian forces advancing along 10-km front near Ustinovka in Kharkov Region — expertAndrey Marochko said earlier that Russian troops have advanced one kilometer north of UstinovkaRead moreUS considering all possibilities regarding Cuba, military action included — Pentagon chiefPete Hegseth noted that the United States has "a lot of options" for further actions regarding CubaRead moreZaporozhstal steel plant closure devastating for Ukraine, deputy believesThe area's economy depended on the enterprise, said Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Zaporozhye Region Viktor Yemelyanenko Read moreJapan expresses protest to Russia over Putin’s visit to Kuril IslandsJapanese foreign ministry claims that all the "northern territories," as Tokyo refers to the southern part of the Kuril Islands, including Iturup, are an "ancestral Japanese territory"Read moreWestern pirate games to prompt Russian response anywhere, senator saysKonstantin Basyuk emphasized that there was no point in using diplomatic notes with those who speak the language of forceRead moreLibyan parliament speaker, top Turkish diplomat discuss ways of settling Libyan crisisThe talks between Aguila Saleh and Hakan Fidan were held in Benghazi after the top Turkish diplomat’s meeting with Libyan National Army commander Saddam HaftarRead moreRussian Battlegroup West destroys 83 Ukrainian heavy six-rotor drones in past dayApart from that, Ukraine’s daily losses included 61 drone control centers, a Starlink satellite communications station, and 39 ground-based robotic systemsRead moreRussian troops consolidating positions in Olkhovatka in Kharkov Region — expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, this was preceded by the liberation of the neighboring settlement of Vodyanoye on August 12Read morePress review: EU braces for winter fuel shortage as gold prices set to recoverTop stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 12thRead moreSupreme Court finds Yabloko received about $36,000 from abroadThe party recieved donations from counterparties, who received funding from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and a number of other countries from July 9 to August 2Read moreWashington seeks to cut embassy staff in Middle East — CNNAccording to the TV channel, the US State Department does not expect to return to normal staffing in the region soon amid the looming threat of a full-scale return to war Read moreSu-35S pilot destroys two Ukrainian Su-27s in single air battle — commanderSergey Kobylash added that, "after skillfully executing a maneuver and taking up an advantageous tactical position," the Russian pilot fired three air-to-air missilesRead moreIN BRIEF: Casualties after UAV attacks, fire in Bashkortostan Region, Sevastopol blackoutA young woman was injured when a drone crashed in the Rostov RegionRead moreMagnitude 5.5 earthquake hits off El Salvador’s coastThe epicenter was located 69 kilometers southeast of the city of ChirilaguaRead morePutin visits Kuril Island of IturupAs follows from a video released by the Kremlin press service, Vladimir Putin visited the Yasny fish-packing factory on IturupRead moreIran may drag conflict with US out until end of Trump’s presidential term — IRGCAccording to Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, Iran has to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack itRead moreNGO sues Trump challenging paid access to his publications on Truth SocialAccording to the plaintiffs, last year alone, from 9,000 to 11,000 posts and reposts were published on the US leader's pageRead moreEnsuring Russia’s security on all fronts: what is known about meeting held by PutinThe Russian leader stated that the main tasks are being addressed today as part of the special military operation, but it is necessary to "ensure the security of the Russian state along all its borders"Read moreRussia’s defenses in Zaporozhye make Ukraine’s military 'hit brick wall' — military expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, the Russian army manages to hold back the enemy and advance on this directionRead moreUkrainian attack leaves Sevastopol without electricityAccording to the city’s Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev, specialists are assessing the damage and emergency services are in a state of high alert.Read moreRussian troops hammer Ukrainian fuel tanks, ship with military cargo in new strikesRussian troops hit a Ukrainian patrol boat at the Ochakov port in the Nikolayev RegionRead moreIN BRIEF: What we know about foiled terrorist attack against Defense Ministry officerThe suspect planned to blow up a car of the employee of the military commissariat of the Krasnodar RegionRead moreNorth Korea can deliver ‘death' blow in case of external threat — Foreign MinistryFirst Deputy Foreign Minister Jang Kum-chol called South Korean nuclear submarine program "a serious challenge" to the security and maritime sovereignty of North KoreaRead moreEU endangers itself by acting against civilian shipping — Russian Foreign MinistryToday, Operation Irini is actually being used by the European Union to intimidate commercial carriers and obstruct the freedom of navigation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Read moreKiev’s Black Sea strikes further Western interests — MFAAccording to Maria Zakharova, the Kiev regime seeks to provoke chaos on the global food marketRead moreRussia’s security must be ensured along all of its borders — PutinThe Russian leader noted that the situation in the Pacific Fleet’s operational area "is not easy" Read moreRussian stocks close in the red on WednesdayThe yuan exchange rate against the ruble added 5 kopecks to 12.3 rublesRead moreMoscow ready to exchange over 220 convicted Ukrainians for Russians — rights commissionerYana Lantratova added that the Russians in question included residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and CrimeaRead moreAmerican mercenary Conor Kennedy arrested in absentia in Russia, placed on wanted listHe participated in combat operations on the side of the Ukrainian forces incognitoRead moreStrait of Hormuz traffic falls five times since start of war — WSJThe publication also noted that on August 11, 14 vessels managed to cross the Strait of Hormuz with 11 of them using the so-called Iranian corridor Read moreMoscow to respond in kind if West seizes Russian commercial vessels — PutinThe Russian president emphasized that it wasn’t just about the areas where Russian vessels could be seized but wherever Moscow founds it necessary and reasonableRead moreDeath toll from earthquake in Colombia up to 265A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near the city of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department on August 10Read moreHouthis lose over 80 fighters in Yemen in six days — TVYemeni government forces launched artillery and drone strikes against the rebels in northern Dhale Governorate on Tuesday eveningRead moreBaltic not NATO’s internal sea, Polish president warnsAlthough this follows from cartography and map analysis, in fact this is not entirely the case, Karol Nawrocki pointed outRead more

Source: TASS English
RELATED NEWS

More Stories

All News
Russia

Putin's Kuril Islands visit does little to normalize bilateral relations — Japanese PM

• What happened: Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup in the Kuril Islands has been met with strong protests from Japan, as it complicates th...

Russia

Roads around Energodar checked daily for Ukrainian mines — Zaporozhye NPP

• What happened: Roads around Energodar, near the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, are being inspected daily for mines reportedly planted by Ukrainian forces usi...

Russia

Arctic must remain zone of low tensions — Russian Foreign Ministry

• What happened: Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko emphasized the importance of maintaining the Arctic as a zone of low tension during the...

Russia

Sudanese paramilitaries renew assault – Reuters

• What happened: Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified their assault on El Obeid, accompanied by drone strikes across the countr...

Russia

Russia keeps all UN secretary-general candidates in view — deputy foreign minister

• What happened: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Russia is closely monitoring all candidates for the UN Secretary-General position, h...

Russia

Russia, Malaysia to jointly participate in advanced development territories in Far East

• What happened: Russia and Malaysia agreed to enhance cooperation in special economic zones and participate jointly in advanced development territories in Far ...