Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) has uncovered a sophisticated Russian espionage operation targeting Ukrainian minors. The scheme, allegedly orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), disguised reconnaissance activities as “quest games” to manipulate children into gathering sensitive intelligence.

In a special operation in Kharkiv, the SSU detained two FSB agent groups comprising teenagers aged 15 and 16. These minors were tasked with reconnaissance missions, strike coordination, and arson activities. Operating independently to maintain secrecy, the groups received geographic coordinates and instructions to photograph, video record, and document specific locations.

The collected intelligence, transmitted through anonymous chat channels to Russian operatives, was reportedly used to coordinate airstrikes in Kharkiv. The SSU successfully apprehended all group members after they were caught photographing air defense installations.

Law enforcement has detained one organizer, who now faces life imprisonment. Additionally, a Russian police officer from Krasnodar, identified as the FSB groups’ liaison, has been charged in absentia under Article 113 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code for sabotage during martial law.

Concurrent with these developments, Ukraine’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) has reported new cyber attacks targeting the country’s defense companies and security forces, attributed to the Russian-linked threat actor UAC-0185.