In a candid interview released Tuesday, Ukraine’s top military intelligence official, Kyrylo Budanov, confirmed that the country employs prostitutes as part of its intelligence-gathering operations.
Speaking with Ukrainian journalist Ramina Eshakzai, Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), described the use of sex workers as a “normal method” in the espionage toolkit. He suggested that men in relaxed or boastful states often reveal sensitive information.
“Do you know how often men share stories to show how powerful they are?” Budanov remarked. “We have obtained several unique pieces of information this way—things we otherwise would never have found out.”
Budanov also revealed that women now make up a “very high percentage” of HUR personnel, underscoring a growing female presence in Ukraine’s intelligence operations. He explained that agents often use cover roles such as journalism, sociology, and other entrepreneurial activities. Some operatives even live under “full cover” while embedded deep inside Russia.
The admission comes amid Ukraine’s increasingly aggressive intelligence tactics, including sabotage operations and targeted killings on Russian soil. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused Kyiv of ramping up recruitment efforts inside Russia for the purpose of carrying out such missions. Moscow has labeled Ukraine’s intelligence efforts as acts of “terrorism,” blaming Kyiv for the assassinations of Russian military officers, journalists, and political figures.
Ukraine’s use of unconventional intelligence tactics reflects a shift in strategy as its forces face mounting challenges on the battlefield. While controversial, these methods highlight Kyiv’s determination to continue its information war against Moscow in both traditional and covert arenas.
