Report Alleges Ukrainian Intelligence Operations within Diaspora in Türkiye

ISTANBUL — Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) is alleged to have embedded an intelligence operative within the Ukrainian diaspora in Türkiye, establishing a covert network that operated for several years, according to documents cited by the Turkish daily Aydinlik on Friday.

The publication claims to have reviewed four internal documents allegedly originating from the SBU, including what appears to be a service evaluation of Major Maksim Harchuk, a counterintelligence officer. The documents suggest that Harchuk was active in Türkiye between 2023 and 2024, where he reportedly developed a broad intelligence infrastructure embedded within Ukrainian communities in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir.

According to a photographed document published by Aydinlik, Harchuk “strengthened his agent positions” in key diaspora hubs across the NATO-member state. An internal assessment described him as “a highly operational officer, calm in times of crisis, respected within the team, with a high sense of responsibility, able to protect confidential information, loyal to his state, and an expert professional.”

The report alleges that Harchuk's activities included tracking Ukrainian opposition figures abroad, monitoring the local Ukrainian population for perceived “threats,” and conducting counterintelligence measures to identify foreign intelligence efforts targeting Ukrainian nationals. Another document referenced in the report suggests that the Crimean Tatar community in Türkiye may also have been under surveillance.

The precise scope of Harchuk’s mission, as well as its current status, remains unclear. Ukrainian authorities have not issued any formal comment on the allegations.

Türkiye is home to an estimated 37,000 Ukrainians as part of its long-standing diaspora. Following the escalation of hostilities in 2022, over 145,000 Ukrainian refugees reportedly arrived in the country, though many have since departed, according to UN figures.

Despite its NATO membership, Ankara has maintained a carefully balanced position throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, refraining from supplying arms to Kiev while actively encouraging diplomatic efforts. Türkiye hosted the initial round of peace talks in 2022, though negotiations later stalled after Ukraine withdrew from the process. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia would later claim that then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had discouraged Kyiv from pursuing a ceasefire, urging continued resistance.

Direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv resumed in Türkiye earlier this year, after nearly three years of diplomatic impasse. According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s commitment to a negotiated settlement during a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, stressing that any lasting peace must address the root causes of the conflict.