Two Chinese citizens have been arrested in the capital of Ukraine on suspicion of attempting to illegally export classified documentation regarding the production of Ukrainian RK-360MC “Neptune” missiles.
This is reported by Kyiv24
How the Suspects Operated
According to the counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine, the espionage activities are linked to a 24-year-old former student of one of Kyiv’s technical universities and his father. The young man was expelled from the university in 2023 due to academic failure but remained in Kyiv. His father traveled from China and personally coordinated his son’s actions, organizing covert operations to gather classified information.
“According to the case materials, the former Chinese student was supposed to acquire technical documentation on the production of Ukrainian “Neptunes.” To this end, he attempted to recruit a Ukrainian citizen involved in the development of modern defense weapons. The SBU’s counterintelligence uncovered the spy at the initial stage of his intelligence activities and caught him ‘in the act’ during the transfer of secret documents,” the SBU reported.
Evidence and Further Investigative Actions
After the son’s arrest, SBU operatives also detained his father, who intended to pass the obtained secret materials to representatives of Chinese intelligence. During searches of both suspects, mobile phones containing correspondence that confirms their coordination in espionage activities were seized.
At this time, both detainees have been charged under Part 1 of Article 114 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — espionage. This article provides for a penalty of up to 15 years of imprisonment with property confiscation.