Accusations and Arrests Tied to Alleged Treason and Support for Ukraine
Authorities from the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained a Moscow resident on suspicion of providing financial support to the Ukrainian armed forces. A treason case has been opened under Article 275 of the Criminal Code, marking a serious criminal inquiry into acts linked to the security of the Russian Federation. According to the FSB Center for Public Relations, the activities involved financial assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in support of operations affecting Russia’s security. The Lefortovsky District Court ordered the person detained for two months pending investigation. The defendants’ identities were not disclosed, with the FSB stating the suspect was detained while attempting to leave the country and that ongoing operational measures aim to uncover accomplices involved in the alleged treason.
Rights advocacy groups note that this case appears to be the first publicly documented instance where financial aid to Ukraine formed the basis for initiating treason charges. The Prosecutor General’s Office had previously stated in February 2022 that any assistance to Ukraine during a military operation would be considered a violation of Article 275. If convicted, the Moscow resident could face a prison term ranging from 12 to 20 years, plus a fine up to 500 thousand rubles or an income penalty equivalent to up to three years. During the summer of 2022, the FSB issued warnings of treason to three residents of the Moscow region for donations to the Ukrainian foundation Come Back Alive, illustrating the ongoing legal sensitivity around aid and cooperation with Ukraine.
In the broader context of allegations of cooperation with Ukraine, on March 4, the Altai District Court arrested a Barnaul resident who had been previously reported by the FSB. He is charged under Article 275 and is alleged to have cooperated with an unnamed Ukrainian organization, with the specifics of his actions not publicly disclosed. The case underscores ongoing investigations into alleged collaboration with Ukrainian forces and services.
Two days earlier, on March 2, the FSB announced suspicions that a Komsomolsk-on-Amur resident was coordinating with Ukrainian military intelligence. The agency alleges the individual intended to relay information about Russian military facilities in the Khabarovsk Territory to Ukraine, information that could be used for sabotage, terrorism, or precision strikes on loading and transport routes for Russian military equipment. A treason charge followed against the detainee.
The FSB frequently reports arrests tied to saboteurs or individuals accused of aiding Ukraine. For example, near the end of February, two Sevastopol residents were detained after allegedly offering to sell data about Russian Defense Ministry facilities to Ukrainian services. The FSB asserts one detainee transmitted location data by email and the other confirmed intent, though did not have time to send materials. Both were charged with treason. In mid-February, the FSB announced the arrest in the Moscow region of a Ukrainian citizen believed to be an SBU agent involved in two acts of sabotage on the Moscow railway infrastructure. Officials claim the suspect played a role in obstruction through signaling and automatic blocking systems that affected rail operations, including the set of fires in separate cabins. A treason case was initiated against that individual as well.
Earlier in the year, intelligence services reported the detention of three eighth graders in the Moscow region on charges of planning sabotage on the Kursk railway, with investigators alleging they were recruited via messaging platforms and offered monetary rewards. In a related development, Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, stated in an interview with a major international outlet that Ukrainian agents are active in Russia, with ongoing efforts to recruit Russians who believe Russia should be fundamentally different. Budanov warned that Ukraine aims to restore its territorial integrity and that internal security challenges would persist in Russia until that goal is achieved. He noted that Kiev seeks to engage Russians who recognize strategic shifts in Russia’s approach to security and governance, signaling continued intelligence activity across the border.