Russian 'Spy' Who Facilitated Kramatorsk Missile Strike In Ukraine Likely To Face Life In Prison For Treason

The spy, who is a local of Kramatorsk, sent video footage of the restaurant to Russian military forces.

An alleged Russian spy has been found behind the Kramatorsk missile strike in Ukraine on Tuesday. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a message said that the Russian agent will be charged with treason, according to a BBC report. Zelenskyy asserted that those who help Russia destroy lives deserve the "maximum penalty". At least 12 people died and around 60 were injured after Russian missiles hit the centre of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, reported BBC.

As per the report, a restaurant and a shopping area were in the city, which is close to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The alleged spy, also a resident of Kramatorsk, sent a video of the restaurant to the Russian military before it was struck, reported BBC.

Ukrainian security services on Wednesday released a photo of the local man that they arrested and described him as a Russian agent. The missile strike killed 12 people, including three teenagers. Two of the teens included 14-year-old twin sisters Yuliya and Anna Aksenchenko.

A well-known Ukrainian writer and a Colombian national were among the injured. Zelenskyy said that the suspect who was detained by the joint efforts of security services and police forces is likely to face life imprisonment.

Kramatorsk, an eastern city in the Donetsk region, is under Ukrainian control but it is close to Russian-occupied parts of the country. Colombian peace negotiator, Sergio Jaramillo Caro, said that he was sitting in the restaurant when the attack occurred. He suffered minor injuries as a result of the blasts.

Describing the incident, Caro said he saw “particles moving in slow motion” as he tried to make sense of what was happening around him. He said that the Ukrainian author with them was still in critical condition.

Kramatorsk has often been targeted by missiles since the start of the invasion in February 2022. Last year in April, more than 60 people died in Kramatorsk following a missile strike on the city's railway station.

Meanwhile, BBC reported that the Kremlin is said to have attacked more military targets. The Russian defence ministry said it had destroyed a "temporary deployment of (Ukrainian) commanders" in Kramatorsk. However, they did not elaborate further.