In the Kherson region, Russian security forces detained a 15-year-old teenager on suspicion of transmitting information to the Ukrainian Armed Forces about the location of military equipment. This was reported by “Caution, News” and the pro-Kremlin news agency “Regnum”.
According to the investigation (cited by both the Telegram channel and the news agency), in September a schoolboy from the village of Schastlivtsevo agreed for money to photograph Russian military equipment and send the pictures along with a geotag to his friend who serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The man and the teenager met back in 2020, when the schoolboy worked part-time on his beach during the holiday season.
After the start of the war, the man began serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to an “informed source” of Regnum, the student eventually sent the soldier photographs of the Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system stationed in his village. The same version is also given by the telegram channel “Caution, News”. According to the channel, a search was carried out at the teenager’s home, during which security forces seized “equipment,” two chevrons and two flags of Ukraine. Regnum claims that «various ammunition, a pistol magazine and cartridges» were also seized from the teenager.
According to the news agency, a case was opened against the schoolboy under the new article 275.1 of the Criminal Code (Collaboration on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization); the young man faces 3 to 8 years in prison.
An article on “confidential cooperation” with foreign intelligence services “for the purpose of assisting them in activities known to be directed against the security of Russia” appeared in the Criminal Code in July 2022. It carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison or a fine of up to a million rubles.
Previously, the reason for criminal cases under this article included correspondence with representatives of Legion «Freedom of Russia», recognized as a terrorist organization.»