Russian intelligence agents were trying to steal a Stinger MANPADS to shoot down a passenger jet over the territory of Russia or Belarus.

The Security Service of Ukraine reports about this.

The SSU has completed a multistage operation, in the course of which a deep-seated sabotage and reconnaissance group (SRG) of the enemy was neutralized.

The enemy SRG included two persons with dual citizenship and one accomplice recruited by them. Their activities were coordinated by the Russian citizen Alexander Tyuterev, a staff member of the Main Department of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, using the call sign “Morpekh”.

According to the SSU, Tyuterev was also engaged in a series of terrorist attacks committed in the Odesa region.

Enemy agents attempted to contact Ukraine’s Armed Forces under the premise of being patriotic volunteers. To gain trust, they conveyed to the Ukrainian side true information on the positions and maneuvres of the Chechen units (Kadyrovtsy).

The agents were allegedly tasked to use these contacts to illegally obtain a foreign-made MADPAD and transfer it to the Russian side.

The SSU reports that it has apprehended all members of the involved sabotage and reconnaissance group.

Investigative and operational actions are underway to substantiate the facts of the crime and bring its heads to justice.

The SSU also discovered that “Morpekh” was lying to the leadership about the success of his work in Ukraine.

He gave his mercenaries the task of staging terrorist attacks in the rear of Ukraine. For example, they were to prepare stage photos and videos of an alleged attack at a checkpoint of the Territorial Defence Forces.

Previously, the SSU detained an official of the defense facility who was passing secret information to the invaders about the maintenance of the combat aircrafts and infrastructure of the Air Force.