The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has arrested two citizens of the People's Republic of China in Kiev on suspicion of espionage, the Ukrainian TV channel Channel 24 reported, citing official sources, Focus reports.
The detainees are a 24-year-old former student at the Kiev Technical University and his father. The two are accused of collecting secret information about the Ukrainian missile complex RK-360MS "Neptune", with the aim of passing the data to Chinese intelligence services.
According to the information, the young man was expelled from the university in 2023 due to poor academic performance, but remained to live in Kiev. His father periodically arrived in Ukraine to coordinate his son's intelligence activities.
The goal of the espionage operation was to obtain technical documentation related to the production of the "Neptune" cruise missiles. To achieve this, the young Chinese citizen tried to recruit a Ukrainian citizen who was involved in the development of modern weapons systems for the Defense Forces.
The SBU counterintelligence managed to intercept the actions of the suspects at the initial stage of the operation. The former student was arrested at the time of receiving secret documents, and his father was also detained on suspicion of maintaining contact with Chinese intelligence services and preparing the transfer of the collected information.
During the searches, mobile phones containing messages and correspondence were confiscated, which, according to the SBU, prove the coordination of espionage activities between the father and son.
The two men are charged with espionage under the Criminal Code of Ukraine. If found guilty, they face up to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property.
The investigation is being conducted under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.