The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation detained a married couple for “espionage in favor of Ukraine” at the defense industry enterprise in Nizhny Tagil.

Russian media report that both were arrested on charges of treason.

The couple allegedly “provided the special services of Ukraine for a monetary reward with information of a military and technical nature that can be used against the Russian army.”

“Items of espionage activity” were seized during the search of the suspect’s place of residence. The special service did not specify which items those were.

Russian publications also write that the detainees admitted to handing over the drawings.

When asked by law enforcement officers about what information she provided to a foreign party, the girl replied, “Drawings.”

The detainee specified that she and her husband received about 100,000 rubles for the provided information.

Previously, Evan Gershkovich, The Wall Street Journal journalist, was arrested on suspicion of espionage in Russia. Shortly before his detention, he visited Nizhny Tagil.

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation claimed that the journalist was trying to obtain classified information on behalf of the American government and collected materials about the activities of one of the enterprises of the defense industry.

Nizhny Tagil, in particular, is home to the Uralvagonzavod defense enterprise.

Human rights activists point out that recently, the number of criminal cases brought under the articles of espionage and treason has increased dramatically in Russia.

Only in March, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation detained a resident of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, accusing him of trying to pass information about the Ministry of Defense facilities to Ukrainian intelligence, a resident of Moscow on charges of helping the Ukrainian army, and an 18-year-old student from Karelia on a similar charge.