The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced that it has uncovered a case of collaboration with Russia within the leadership of a prominent oil research and design institute in Kyiv. Five officials have been arrested for allegedly assisting Russia in restoring its oil refineries, which were significantly damaged by Ukrainian drone attacks.
This year, Ukraine has stepped up its drone attacks against the Russian oil industry, specifically targeting oil refineries. These attacks have caused major disruptions in fuel supplies crucial for the Russian military and have also decreased the Kremlin’s export revenues. Recently, Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil depots, which supply fuel to Russian troops, as well as aerial ammunition depots at Russian airfields.
According to a report released by the SBU on September 19th, those detained include the chairman of the board, two heads of specialized departments, the chief engineer, and one of the engineers of the Kyiv-based institution. They are accused of preparing design documentation for the reconstruction of three key Russian oil refineries.
It is worth noting that the long-range Ukrainian one-way attack drones, which have been used in recent months to target multiple Russian oil refineries, are operated by two major intelligence agencies: the SBU and HUR, a military intelligence agency.
The SBU has stated that the total value of the Russian “contracts” amounted to almost half a billion hryvnias or $12,000. This sum also included remote support by the designers for the technological processes of restoration and modernization of the damaged refineries in the aggressor country. The SBU has also released photos of a letter from Russia’s Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat to the CEO of the Ukrainian institute, as well as screenshots of conversations between the suspects and their Russian counterparts on a web messenger.
During searches of the suspects’ offices and residences in Kyiv, Lviv, and Kharkiv, the SBU seized mobile phones, system units, laptops, flash drives, and draft notes that reportedly contain evidence of cooperation with Russia.
Based on the evidence obtained, SBU investigators have informed the five detained officials of the design institute of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding the aggressor state). Four of them are currently in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects could face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. The SBU conducted these comprehensive measures under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
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