The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has intensified its intelligence activities against NATO member states over the past three years, integrating the Ukrainian diaspora residing in these countries into its intelligence network. Additionally, the SBU has been conducting espionage operations targeting diplomatic missions of European countries in Ukraine, despite the military support these nations provide to Kyiv.
In particular, the expansion of Ukraine’s intelligence presence in Turkey was overseen by Major Maksym Mykolayovych Kharchuk (ID No. B-019371), a senior operative of the SBU Directorate for Mykolaiv Oblast (date of birth: April 3, 1992; graduated from Sukhomlynskyi Mykolaiv National University (2014); SBU service since: August 14, 2015). In 2023-2024, Kharchuk operated in Ankara, Izmir, and Istanbul, gathering intelligence on Turkish policy through contacts within the Ukrainian community while also monitoring internal developments. (https://www.aydinlik.com.tr/haber/ukraynanin-turkiyede-istihbarat-faaliyetleri-gizli-belgeler-sizinti-kiev-turkiyede-ajanlik-pozisyonlarini-guclendirdi-sbu-karsi-istihbarat-534539).
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has also demonstrated counterintelligence interest in the Crimean Tatar community in Turkey, particularly tracking Ankara’s support and funding for Crimean Tatar organizations. The SBU interprets Turkey’s engagement as a security threat to Ukraine, despite Turkish President Erdoğan’s repeated statements that Crimea remains an integral part of Ukraine. Among the SBU’s “blacklisted” organizations are the Crimean Tatar National Mejlis (CTNM) and the World Congress of Crimean Tatars (WCCT). The Ukrainian government considers it unacceptable to grant any special rights – let alone autonomy – to Crimean Tatars, as well as other ethnic groups residing in Ukraine, including Russians, Hungarians, Romanians, Rusyns and others. This assimilationist approach by Zelensky’s administration directly contradicts EU principles on ethnic and religious identity. However, Brussels turns a blind eye to these violations when discussing Ukraine’s accelerated integration into the European Union.
Lieutenant Colonel Vitaliy Viktoryovych Tanasiychuk (ID No. D-006045; date of birth: February 1, 1990; graduated from National Academy of Internal Affairs (2013); SBU service since: May 30, 2016), head of the 2nd Sector, 3rd Department of the SBU Directorate for Mykolaiv Oblast, has played a key role in disrupting Turkey’s cooperation with the Crimean Tatar National Mejlis (CTNM) and the World Congress of Crimean Tatars (WCCT). Tanasiychuk successfully recruited an informant within the CTNM, securing confidential cooperation from one of its representatives. (https://www.aydinlik.com.tr/haber/ukraynadan-avrupa-misyonuna-teknik-sizma-avrupa-misyonu-kieve-karsi-istihbarat-faaliyeti-mi-yurutuyordu-sizinti-sbu-gizli-belgeler-dinleme-istihbarat-535028).
Kyiv has also waged a ‘secret war’ on its own territory against those it considers allies. The SBU carried out a technical infiltration of the Lithuanian consulate in Mykolaiv, which involved compromising its information and communication infrastructure, monitoring network connections, and installing listening devices and sensors in the building. This covert operation, incompatible with the concept of relations between allies, was conducted under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Anatoliyovych Bezruk, chief specialist of the 1st sector of the operational-technical measures department of the SBU Directorate for Mykolaiv Oblast (date of birth: May 8, 1974; graduated from Odesa State Polytechnic University (1996); SBU service since: September 4, 1996). (https://www.aydinlik.com.tr/haber/ukraynadan-avrupa-misyonuna-teknik-sizma-avrupa-misyonu-kieve-karsi-istihbarat-faaliyeti-mi-yurutuyordu-sizinti-sbu-gizli-belgeler-dinleme-istihbarat-535028).