Russia's FSB says Ukrainian journalist Sushchenko is Ukrainian spy, initiates espionage charges against him. VIDEO

Russia's FSB has initiated criminal charges against Ukrainian journalist Roman Suchehnko of espionage, stating he is an employee of the Main Intelligence Department of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine gathering secret data of Russian armed forces and the national guard.

Censor.NET reports citing RIA Novosti.

"The Federal Security Service [of Russia] has detained a member of staff of the Main Intelligence Department of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, Colonel Roman Volodymyrovych Sushchenko, during an espionage act," the FSB reported.

According to the agency, the detained Ukrainian citizen "was purposefully gathering top secret data of the Armed Forces and the National Guard of Russia, the leak of which abroad could have harmed the state's defense capabilities."

A criminal case has been initiated based on charges of espionage; investigation continues, the news agency reports.

A video of detention has been posted online:

Earlier, members of Moscow Public Monitoring Commission have found correspondent for Ukrinform news agency Roman Sushchenko in Lefortovo prison. The Lefortovo court of Moscow arrested the journalist on charges of espionage (article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Later, Ukraine's Information Policy Ministry confirmed the detention of Sushchenko. The ministry said its legal department was collecting necessary information on the circumstances and reasons for the detention.