Ukraine detains “mole” accused of helping Russia's counteroffensive in Kursk

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — Ukrainian counterintelligence officers are seen executing a raid, 2022. (Courtesy photo via Security Service of Ukraine)

(Reuters) -     Ukraine's SBU security service said on Tuesday it had detained a  serviceman it accused of helping Moscow attack Ukrainian troops fighting in Russia's Kursk region by giving away their location. 

Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk region last August in a rapid offensive, hitting back against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Russia has taken back much of territory that was captured in the Ukrainian advance into Kursk but fighting there continues. 

The SBU said in a statement on the Telegram messenger that it had detained a Ukrainian serviceman in the Sumy region which borders the Kursk region. 

"While at the front, the 'mole' was preparing coordinates for the aggressor's missile and bomb attacks on the locations of Ukrainian troops," SBU said. 

It said the serviceman had been recruited by Russia's GRU military intelligence service via Telegram, where he had posted comments in support of Russia. 

The GRU usually does not comment on SBU statements about recruited agents and made no public comment on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday morning, Ukraine's military reported 18 clashes on the Kursk front over the previous day. 

 (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, Editing by Timothy Heritage)