Ukraine Detains 2 Chinese Nationals in Neptune Missile Espionage Case

Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced on July 9, 2025, the detention of two Chinese nationals in Kyiv on suspicion of attempting to steal classified documentation related to the country's RK-360MC Neptune missile system. The SBU stated that the individuals, identified as a 24-year-old former student and his father, were allegedly working to transfer these top-secret files to Chinese intelligence.

The SBU's counterintelligence unit revealed that the younger man, who had been expelled from a Kyiv technical university in 2023, remained in Ukraine and sought to recruit a Ukrainian citizen involved in advanced weapons development.

"A 24-year-old Chinese man tried to recruit a Ukrainian citizen involved in the development of the missile and pass the stolen data to Chinese intelligence via his father," a tweet from Visegrád 24 reported, detailing the alleged plot. His father, a Chinese national residing in China, reportedly visited Ukraine to personally coordinate the espionage activities, and both were apprehended during the transfer of classified documents.

The RK-360MC Neptune missile system is a crucial component of Ukraine's defense capabilities, gaining international recognition after it was used to sink the Russian Black Sea Fleet flagship Moskva in April 2022. Developed domestically, this anti-ship cruise missile has a range of up to 300 kilometers and is vital for protecting Ukraine's coastal areas and restricting Russian naval movements. The SBU emphasized the system's unique strategic importance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The two Chinese citizens have been charged under Part 1 of Article 114 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which pertains to espionage. If convicted, they face a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison with property confiscation. Ukrainian officials noted that these are the first Chinese nationals arrested for spying since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, underscoring growing concerns in Kyiv over China's alleged indirect support for Russia despite Beijing's claims of neutrality.

The arrests highlight the persistent threat of foreign intelligence activities targeting Ukraine's critical defense technologies amidst the ongoing conflict. Kyiv has previously accused China of supplying dual-use goods and components for drones that aid Russia's war efforts, further straining diplomatic relations between the two nations. The Chinese Embassy in Kyiv has not yet commented on the detentions.