Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) head Vasyl Hrytsak has confirmed the reports that one of its officers is in Russian territory, adding that the officer is staying there without any authorization, and has no access to state secrets.

"Yes, our officer is now in Russia. He went to Russia without an authorization. As early as in May 2014, if my memory serves me well, he had his access to state secrets annulled, and since late 2015, he has been at disposal. He has submitted a request for an exit permit, but it [the request] hasn't been endorsed and so he has departed there [for Russia] without permission," Hrytsak told reporters on Thursday. Such was his answer to the question if the reports that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) had exposed a Ukrainian counterintelligence agent.

"Of course, that was not aimed to stitch the FSB up. I will explain: this person had been put out at disposal and actually had to be fired, which will be done in the near future," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the FSB reported that an officer from Ukrainian counterintelligence had been exposed. The Russian security agency said that both the SBU and the CIA attempted to use the officer as a honey-pot in view of his possible recruitment by Russian secret services.