Kiev, 17 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) – Ukrainian authorities have arrested four soldiers accused of spying for Russia by reporting the movements of the F-16 combat jets the country received this year from its Western allies, prosecutors in Kiev said on Tuesday.

The main suspect is said to be a soldier with pro-Russian convictions who recruited three fellow soldiers to collect information on the jets and other information by pretending to be working for domestic intelligence.

The SBU domestic intelligence agency said a network of 12 people was involved, some of whom had deserted military service.

The location of the US-made F-16s and where they are deployed is a key state secret in Ukraine. There have been repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian airbases housing the jets.

MIA file photo