Oleh Kolesnikov - a 52-year-old Ukrainian national who used to be a spy for Russia - was interviewed by Reuters at a detention facility in Zaporizhzhia after being arrested for treason.
The interview was conducted by an officer of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Kolesnikov admitted to providing Russia with information about military sites, activities of Ukrainian soldiers, and the location of Moscow's rocket fell in Zaporizhzhia during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He said he supports the concept of Russian World - a theory approved by President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the historical and cultural relationship between Russia and neighboring countries.
Kolesnikov emphasized: "I don't do this for money."
However, he said he regretted seeing some Russian missiles miss their targets, causing serious damage in Zaporizhzhia - his hometown.
The 52-year-old shared that he initially thought the Russian military would deploy a special military campaign quickly, but in reality things are happening in a completely different way - as the conflict is about to enter its fourth year.
Reuters said that spies activities seem to be a family tradition for Kolesnikov. He said his father was a Soviet spy in Cuba during the Cold War, pretending to be an interpreter, while an older brother of his now working for the Russian Security Service.
Kolesnikov's case is among more than 3,200 anti-state incidents discovered by the Ukrainian government since the conflict with Russia broke out in February 2022.
SBU Director Vasyl Malyuk said that counterfeiting to eliminate spies is a key factor in helping the Ukrainian army gain an advantage. He affirmed that Russia has been quietly penetrating Ukraine for decades to recruit personnel.
