Russia's communications were obtained by the Washington Post.
The senior officer picked the apartment he wanted before the invasion began.
Officials said that Russia chose Ukrainian accommodations for its personnel because it was certain of a quick win.
The Washington Post reported that a top Russian security official picked the apartment he wanted to live in in the middle of the Ukrainian invasion because he was certain of a swift Russian victory.
According to intercept Russian communications seen by The Post, a senior officer in Russia's security service spoke to a colleague in February suggesting he had picked out an apartment in the Ukrainian capital.
Six days after the conversation, Russia invaded.
Russia expected to take Kyiv and install a new government quickly, but was met with resistance from the Ukrainians. Russia has since focused on the east and south of the country.
The apartment was located inKyiv's leafy Obolon neighborhood and overlooks the Dnieper River.
Kovalenko asked for the address and contact details of the person who lived in the apartment that he identified in the intercept communications. The subordinate gave him the information.
The communications seen by The Post were intercepts by Ukraine and other countries.
The Post reported that Kovalenko dealt withUkraine for a long time. The ninth directorate of the department of operational information is where he works. He worked with people who were being paid by Russia.
Ukrainian authorities told The Post that they questioned a person who was an eavesdropper on Kovalenko.
Ukrainian officials told The Post that the FSB told a man in the days before the invasion that he needed to leave his apartment in order to be safe.
Ukrainian officials told The Post that Kovalenko did not show up after the apartment was monitored.
It is not known what happened to the person who was an Informant.
The Post asked Kovalenko for comment, but he didn't reply.
According to The Post, Kovalenko said in late May that he was going back to Ukraine after returning to Russia. Ukrainian officials told The Post that they don't know where he is
The Post reported that Kovalenko's confidence in picking out an apartment was echoed by the FSB.
According to The Post, Russia told people to leave their homes in Ukranian but to keep their keys. Ukrainian and Western officials told The Post that Russian officials were planning to bring personnel into the country in order to win.
Business Insider has an article on it.
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