Belarus Requests Prisoner Exchange for Suspected Spy Inna Kardash
Severity: Medium (Score: 45.0)
Sources: English.Nv.Ua, Ukrinform, Pravda.Ua, Kyivpost, Nashaniva
Summary
Belarus has approached Ukraine to include Inna Kardash, a journalist accused of espionage, in a potential prisoner exchange. Ukrainian officials confirmed that Kardash, who previously worked for Ukrainian media, was detained in January 2026 after being suspected of espionage by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU and Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) conducted a counterintelligence operation that revealed Kardash had been operating under the guise of journalism since 2015, allegedly working for the Belarusian KGB. She was arrested after being monitored in a fake workplace set up by Ukrainian authorities. Currently, she is under investigation and has been ordered to remain in pre-trial detention without bail. Ukrainian officials have expressed their willingness to negotiate but have yet to receive concrete proposals from Belarus regarding the exchange. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Belarus amidst the broader geopolitical conflict in the region. Key Points: • Belarus seeks to exchange Inna Kardash, a suspected spy, with Ukraine. • Kardash was detained in January 2026 for espionage activities linked to the Belarusian KGB. • Ukrainian authorities set up a fake workplace to monitor Kardash's activities before her arrest.