Woman Arrested on Treason Charges for Livestreaming Hotel View of Kyiv Sea to Russian Forces
A 42-year-old woman from the Odesa region has been arrested without bail on suspicion of high treason during martial law. She allegedly rented a hotel room in Kyiv region and streamed video of the Kyiv Sea reservoir to Russian special services, helping coordinate missile and drone strikes.
According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine, the suspect was detained after an investigation revealed she had been working for Russian intelligence. In December 2025, she contacted a Russian special services representative via Telegram and received instructions to gather and relay information on the locations of Ukrainian defense forces, military facilities, and critical infrastructure, as well as to help adjust missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian territory.
In April 2026, the woman sent photos to her handler showing the location, operation, and military equipment of a mobile air defense group in the city of Chornomorsk, Odesa region. Subsequently, the Russian handler assigned her a new task: to travel to Kyiv region to continue guiding enemy attacks on the capital and the region. For this purpose, she was to check into a specific hotel room with a view of the Dnipro Reservoir, known as the Kyiv Sea.
The suspect remotely booked a room at a suburban hotel complex in Kyiv region for several days, with the option to extend her stay. She also purchased a smartphone and installed software enabling remote access for Russian intelligence. She then traveled there from the Odesa bus station. During the trip, she maintained constant contact with her handler, coordinating travel details and receiving instructions on maintaining secrecy while at the hotel.
Upon arrival, the woman used a tripod to place the prepared smartphone on the windowsill of her room, camouflaged it, and set up a continuous video stream of the reservoir. The surveillance lasted for two weeks. Throughout this time, the Russian side used the obtained data to monitor the situation and adjust missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and Kyiv region.
The Security Service of Ukraine believes the suspect is linked to one of the largest Russian attacks on the capital, which occurred on May 24, 2026. The court ordered her detention without the possibility of bail.
