r/UkraineWarVideoReport • u/Jackal8570 • 4h ago
Article A Russian Officer Turned Against His Country and Helped Ukraine Kill Hundreds
wsj.comRead the full article at the link
Excerpt:
One of the deadliest saboteurs in recent military history, Lt. Lev Stupnikov fed troop locations and battle plans to the enemy before making a daring escape
Lt. Lev Stupnikov pulled his truck up to the edge of a field in eastern Ukraine on a frigid February morning, followed by a convoy of senior Russian army officials coming to observe a training exercise near the front line.
For several consecutive days, Russian infantrymen, medics and officers had been drilling on the frozen mud, preparing for an offensive on the nearby city of Vuhledar. The only cover was a line of bare trees.
Stupnikov approached a group of waiting soldiers and snapped a photo, keeping his cellphone close to his chest to avoid drawing attention. Then he quickly tapped out a message: “There must be between 120 and 150 men here.”
Stupnikov, a recent graduate from a prestigious military academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, had a secret. Earlier that month, he had begun covertly sharing information with Ukrainian intelligence.
He had already given his contact the exact coordinates of the field.
Now, with scores of Russian soldiers and their commanding officers gathered there, Stupnikov would have only moments to move out of the line of fire.
“Walk away,” the Ukrainian contact replied, then: “I’m waiting for a message that you’ve left.” Having received no answer, the contact sent a note in all caps a minute later: “LEAVE.”