Ukrainian authorities say they have uncovered and stopped an alleged Russian intelligence plot aimed at locating and destroying Ukraine’s Neptune coastal defense missile system — the same weapon credited with sinking the Russian cruiser Moskva in 2022.
In a statement released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), officials confirmed that military counterintelligence operatives, with the support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Naval Command, detained a 33-year-old Ukrainian servicemember suspected of spying for Russian military intelligence.
According to the SBU, the accused individual had been recruited by Russia’s military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, and was tasked with tracking the locations of Ukrainian units operating the Neptune missile complex in southern Ukraine.
The Neptune system, developed by the Luch Design Bureau, has played a critical role in Ukrainian naval defense since the full-scale invasion began. Its successful use in striking the Moskva in April 2022 elevated it to symbolic status within Ukraine’s arsenal. Since that time, Russian efforts to locate and eliminate the system have reportedly intensified.
The latest case highlights what the SBU describes as a “continued hunt” by Russian forces for the Neptune system. The suspect, the agency says, intended to pass along geolocation data of missile units responsible for defending coastal areas of the Black Sea. In exchange, the Russians allegedly promised advance warning so the agent could avoid the strike zone.
Once in possession of the coordinates, Russian forces planned to launch a combined attack using loitering munitions and cruise missiles, the SBU said.
In a statement, the SBU said it was able to “document the suspect’s reconnaissance activity and prevent the transmission of sensitive data.” Officials added that after securing the location of the targeted units, the agent was arrested while preparing to deliver an intelligence report to his handlers.
Further investigation revealed that the accused had also been ordered to help adjust Russian strikes on Ukrainian military training centers he had previously attended. During a search of his personal belongings, authorities say they found a mobile phone containing evidence of his communication with the Russian side.
The suspect is currently in custody and faces life imprisonment with property confiscation under Ukrainian law.