Russian counterintelligence agents have managed to trick their Ukrainian opponents into paying them $100,000 as part of a sting operation, which thwarted the attempted bribery of a frontline unit, officials claimed on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR had promised to pay $1 million to troops stationed near the city of Gorlovka in exchange for a surprise retreat, the statement said.

After learning about the corruption plot, Russian military intelligence and counterintelligence agents from the Federal Security Service (FSB) launched their own operation to turn the table on the Ukrainians, the FSB explained. The $100,000 was an advance payment for the treasonous act, and actually went to Moscow’s coffers.

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