Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) jointly with police have detained a spy of the so-called "Republican Guard" of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") near the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region.

"A resident of the town of Makiyivka joined an illegal armed formation in 2014. He was trained under the guidance of Russian instructors. The terrorist participated in military operations against the [Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation] ATO forces near the town of Debaltseve in 2015," the SBU's press center said on Monday.

The SBU revealed that the criminal, being part of an organized criminal group, also controlled illegal coal mining, currency exchange, and appropriated humanitarian aid, real estate and vehicles of civilians.

He was detained amid an attempt to enter the Ukrainian-controlled area for the creation of an agent network.

The detainee was notified of suspicion in committing crime under Article 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (the creation of a terrorist group or terrorist organization) and remanded in custody.

A pretrial investigation is under way.