The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, has been sentenced to life in prison by a Moscow court. The verdict, delivered in absentia, is a major development in the shadow war between the two countries. Budanov was convicted on charges of terrorism, espionage, and plotting sabotage on Russian soil.
The Kremlin claims he masterminded a string of attacks inside Russia, including drone strikes on military airfields. Kyiv, of course, rejects the allegations. The sentence is largely symbolic.
Russia cannot extradite Budanov. But it sends a signal to its domestic audience. And to Ukrainian intelligence officers.
The message is clear: there is no escape. The court also handed down lengthy sentences to other Ukrainian intelligence figures, part of a broader crackdown. This is a blow to Russia's own spy network, though.
It admits it failed to stop Budanov's operations. The trial was closed, but leaks suggest the evidence was thin. Largely based on confessions from captured Ukrainian agents.
The West has condemned the verdict. But this is a war of narratives. Both sides claim the moral high ground.
Budanov is a hero in Ukraine. A terrorist in Russia. The sentence will not change the calculus on the battlefield.
But it underscores the deep hatred between the two capitals. The game of spies continues.
