The counterintelligence unit of the Security Service of Ukraine has apprehended two citizens of the People's Republic of China in Kyiv, who were trying to illegally export classified documents about the Ukrainian missile system RK-360MC «Neptune» to China.

This unique weapon is crucial for the defense forces of Ukraine, designed to target various combat and landing ships. It's worth noting that the «Neptune» was responsible for the destruction of the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the missile cruiser «Moscow».

Investigations revealed that one of the Chinese spies is a 24-year-old former student of a technical university in Kyiv. He remained in Kyiv after being expelled in 2023 due to academic failure.

The other individual involved is his father, who lived primarily in China but frequently visited Ukraine to personally coordinate his son’s espionage activities.

According to the case materials, the former student was supposed to acquire technical documentation related to the production of Ukrainian «Neptunes».

To do this, he attempted to recruit a Ukrainian citizen involved in the development of modern weaponry for the defense forces.

The counterintelligence of the SBU uncovered the spy at the early stage of his activities and caught him «in the act» while he was receiving secret documents.

The next step involved the arrest of his father, who was supposed to transmit the classified information to the Chinese intelligence services.

During searches, both suspects had their phones seized, which contained evidence of their correspondence coordinating their espionage activities.

Based on the gathered evidence, investigators of the Security Service reported the suspects under Part 1 of Article 114 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (espionage).

The suspects face up to 15 years of imprisonment with the confiscation of property.

The comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural guidance of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.