Ukrainian spies infiltrated NATO state – media

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) embedded an agent within the Ukrainian diaspora in Türkiye, establishing a covert intelligence network that reportedly operated for years, Aydinlik reported on Friday.

The Turkish newspaper cited four documents allegedly belonging to the Ukrainian security agency, including what appeared to be a service evaluation of Major Maksim Harchuk from the SBU’s counterintelligence unit and his activities in Türkiye.

According to a photographed document published by the outlet, Harchuk allegedly established a spy network in the NATO member state and “strengthened his agent positions in the Ukrainian communities of Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir.”

“A highly operational officer, calm in times of crisis, respected within the team, with a high sense of responsibility, able to protect confidential information, loyal to his state and an expert professional,” the suspected Ukrainian agent was described in internal correspondence cited by Aydinlik.

The suspected agent reportedly tracked opposition figures and monitored the local diaspora for potential “threats.” Another document suggested Harchuk also targeted the Crimean Tatar ethnic group in Türkiye. He is also said to have conducted counterintelligence operations by tracking attempts from foreign intelligence services to recruit Ukrainian nationals.

Harchuk allegedly carried out these activities between 2023 and 2024, Aydinlik wrote, although it remains unclear exactly what his role involved or when his mission ended.

The Ukrainian diaspora in Türkiye currently numbers around 37,000, according to the newspaper. UN data shows approximately 145,000 Ukrainians fled to Türkiye after the escalation of the conflict in 2022, though most later left.

Despite being a NATO member, Ankara has largely refrained from supplying weapons to Kiev, instead urging both sides to pursue a diplomatic resolution.

In 2022, Türkiye hosted the first round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, which Kiev later unilaterally abandoned. David Arakhamia, who led the Ukrainian delegation, later said then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had persuaded Kiev to continue fighting.

Russia and Ukraine resumed Türkiye-hosted talks earlier this year after nearly three years without direct diplomatic contact.

Moscow remains committed to pursuing a diplomatic resolution, but insists that the root causes of the conflict must be addressed, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart Donald Trump during a phone call on Thursday.