Russia intensifies activities of its spies – Ukraine's National Security Council Secretary

Russia has stepped up the activities of its spy network in Ukraine, whereas the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has been taking extensive action to combat it, Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, has said.

Source: Radio Svoboda (Liberty) citing Danilov in an interview with The Times; Ukrainska Pravda’s sources

Details: Danilov said the Russian agents’ aim is to "drive a wedge between the political and military leadership of Ukraine, as well as inflame anti-government sentiments among the population".

Danilov noted that Russia is trying to take advantage of the "so-called tension" between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He also emphasised that Russia makes attempts to "spread disinformation and propaganda to destabilise the situation in Ukraine".

Quote from Ukrainska Pravda: "Radio Liberty wrote that Russia has also intensified spying activities in the SSU, but Danilov told Ukrainska Pravda that the Times misunderstood him and that the SSU is 'actively tracking down spies'".

Background: 

• On 16 November, Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a group of journalists that the Kremlin was seeking to split Ukrainian society, wreak havoc inside the country, and ultimately overthrow the president. Intelligence reports indicated that Russia referred to this plan as Maidan 3
• Later, Zelenskyy said Russia wanted to remove him from the post of Ukrainian president by the end of 2023 and that it had come up with a destabilisation plan codenamed Maidan-3.
• Zelenskyy also stressed that military personnel who are going to enter politics should not "deal with war". The president added that "with all the respect to Gen Zaluzhnyi and to all the commanders who are on the battlefield, there is an absolute understanding of the hierarchy," as otherwise, it does not lead to the unity of the nation.

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