Ukraine’s security services have apprehended an engineer from Kharkiv, 72 years old, accused of secretly helping Russia improve its fleet of Shahed drones.
Ukraine’s Security Service reported on 30th October that a Kharkiv-resident had been arrested for assisting Russia in improving Shahed suicide drones.
According to the SBU the 72-year old mechanical engineer was commissioned to improve the engines and catapults of the Shahed drones by Russia.
Russia attacks the Kharkiv oblast, including Kharkiv city, regularly, and uses Shahed drones to strike across Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Moscow has denied intentionally targeting civilians.
The suspect allegedly sent the technological developments via a friend, the CEO of an Russian machine-building factory that produces drone components.
Since 2023, the plant has been working with a Russian company that manufactures “Geran-2”, also known as Shahed drones.
According to the SBU the scientist was his former student who fled Kharkiv Oblast and went to Russia when the war began. He was hired at a Moscow university of technology, where he worked on drone development for the Russian military.
The Kharkiv scholar has been detained in his residence. He was charged with complicity in Russia, which could result in a 12-year prison term with confiscation of assets.
The SBU plans to also issue an absentia suspicion notice to his former student.
Seven suspects, including minors, have been arrested for arson attacks against military and railway targets.
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