Russian intelligence agencies tried to implant their agents in Ukraine under the guise of religious people

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that Russian intelligence agencies tried to implant their agents in Ukraine under the guise of clergymen.

It was reported by the press office of the agency on Facebook, Ukrayinska Pravda reports.

It is noted that employees of the “Crimean branch” of the FSB forced a resident of Chernivtsi, who until the events of March 2014 lived in Crimea, to commit state treason.

According to the SBU, Russian law enforcement agencies set sights on the man, as he held an open pro-Ukrainian position.

“Besides, the man was a servant in one of the monasteries, so the “comrades” decided to use him in religious life. He had to complete reconnaissance tasks in the territory of Ukraine under the guise of a monk,” the statement reads. “For the man to become more conciliatory, the successors of the KGB traditions, according to their habits, placed him in a psychiatric hospital for forceful treatment. A few months later, the man still managed to get released and return to mainland Ukraine,” added the Security Service.

It is also reported that Russian FSB employees planned to use their own citizen to perform special assignments in the Muslim communities on the territory of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

"To this end, the man had to take a “young soldier course” in religious educational institutions of the Middle East or South Asia,” stated the SBU.

They added that after his refusal, he was held for some time in custody on charges of drug trafficking, and after a repeated offer of confidential cooperation, the Russian hastily left the country.

The department was informed that this Russian citizen now hopes to obtain refugee status and stay in Ukraine.