Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine detained two Russian agents in the Kyiv region who were transporting Ukrainian SIM cards to Russia for enemy kamikaze drones and recruiting employees of Ukrainian mobile operators.
Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine detained two Russian agents in the Kyiv region who were transporting Ukrainian SIM cards to Russia for enemy kamikaze drones and recruiting employees of Ukrainian mobile operators.
As noted by the SBU, the presence of the «sevens» improved the communication and navigation of Russian drones.
One of the detained agents was a former law enforcement officer. The traitors bought Ukrainian SIM cards and sent them to their accomplices in the European Union. From there, the mobile cards were sent to the Russian Federation, to the cities of Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga in Tatarstan, where factories producing combat UAVs are located.
«Another task of Russian agents was to recruit employees of Ukrainian mobile communication companies in order to receive intelligence „from within“ domestic operators. The SBU counterintelligence exposed hostile intelligence activity, documented the agents and detained them,» the SBU noted.
The detainees were charged under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed under martial law). They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property. Law enforcement officers are also working to detain other members of the Russian agent network in the European Union.
Back in 2023, military analysts, citing open Ukrainian sources, reported that the Russians were using Ukrainian SIM cards (in particular, those of the Kyivstar operator) to control Shahed kamikaze drones.
In September 2025, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian army has been using UAVs with SIM cards from other countries, including Ukraine, for about six months. According to experts, if the Russians launch drones with SIM cards en masse, Ukraine may need to turn off mobile Internet during air raids.
