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Ukraine’s top internal security agency said on Friday that it has discovered a Russian spy network involving Ukrainian politician Andriy Derkach, who had previously been accused by the US of being a Russian agent.
According to the State Security Service (SBU), Derkach, whose whereabouts are unknown, established a network of private security organisations to facilitate and support Russian units’ entry into cities during Moscow’s Feb. 24 assault.
Derkach could not be reached for comment immediately. He earlier denied guilt and claimed he was targeted for exposing corruption.
The SBU cited testimony from Derkach’s legislative aide, Ihor Kolykhayev, in a statement. It claimed he was arrested at the start of the war and accused him of acting as a go-between for Derkach and Russia’s military intelligence organisation.
Derkach’s security firms, according to Kolykhayev, “had to facilitate the passage of (Russian) vehicles, get into armoured vehicles with Russian flags, and thus ensure (the Russian army’s) quiet entry into the city.”
According to the SBU, Derkach was paid $3-4 million every few months to carry out the plan.
Derkach was sanctioned by the US Treasury in September 2020 for allegedly attempting to influence the 2020 US presidential election.
Derkach was described as “an active Russian agent for more than a decade” in the Treasury’s sanction announcement at the time.