In Ukraine, a real spy drama over the secret of the “Neptune” missile

An unprecedented event in the country’s defense sphere took place in Kyiv — two Chinese nationals were detained while trying to take out of the country secret documents related to the production of “Neptune” missiles in Ukraine. This was reported by the country’s security service in its official statement.

According to reports, one of the suspects in espionage is a 24-year-old former student of the Kyiv Technical University. Although he was officially expelled from the university in 2023, he remained in Kyiv for various reasons and, presumably, in recent months was engaged in collecting classified information related to Ukraine’s defense industry. His father regularly came to Ukraine to directly coordinate his son’s activities.

According to the special services, the young Chinese man tried to persuade a local citizen working in Ukraine’s weapons production system to provide secret information. However, security officers monitored his actions and managed to detain him at the moment of handing over the technical documents. At that time, an operation was also carried out to detain his father. According to investigators, these documents were supposed to be handed over to the Chinese special services.

During the inspection and search, the phones of both suspects were confiscated, and important evidence of their espionage activities was found on them. According to the official statement, if the charges are confirmed, both face up to 15 years in prison.

This case has been recorded for the first time in Ukraine since the war with Russia began in 2022. According to Reuters, until now, Chinese citizens have not been detained for crimes of this category. The Chinese embassy in Kyiv has not yet commented on the situation.

The “Neptune” missile has become a strategic weapon for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These missiles can fly at a speed of 900 km/h and cover a distance of up to 300 kilometers. In 2022, a missile of this type played a decisive role in the destruction of the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet — the cruiser “Moskva”.

This incident shows that the need for strict control and protection in the field of security and defense in Ukraine is growing even more. Any new technologies, especially innovations in the field of missiles and armaments, have always been in the focus of world intelligence centers.

Now all eyes are on the Security Service and the judicial system of Ukraine: how this case will end and what resonance it will have in international relations — time will tell. But it is clear that in today’s modern world, the struggle for secret information and technology is becoming tougher every year.

What other high-profile events may occur in the future will be shown by time itself, but this incident in Ukraine will remain a lesson for everyone today. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!