Ukraine routinely hires sex workers and relies on gambling companies to get hold of Russian intelligence, according to the head of the country's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

Spymaster Kyrylo Budanov was quizzed on the daily operations of Ukraine's intelligence gathering services, admitting to unconventional ways of recruiting spies and gathering valuable data.

“It’s a normal method, isn’t it? Men often share stories to demonstrate their power,” Budanov explained during an interview with Ukrainian journalist Ramina Eshakzai.

Budanov, who has served as the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligencem in the Ministry of Defense, since 2020, added that the country had gathered information which would have otherwise been near-impossible to get without the use of sex workers.

On recruitment, he admitted the service searches for 'vulnerabilities in a person’s lifestyle' when searching for Russian spies to aid Ukraine.

“There’s a big difference between recruiting remotely or in person, as both methods are used,” Budanov said. “Recruitment via technical means is becoming more common because it feels safer for the person being recruited, in their perception. But it’s riskier for the operative, as there’s a greater chance of falling into a counterintelligence trap.

“(When looking to recruit) They look for vulnerabilities, usually in the person’s lifestyle, based on available data.

“If someone has serious problems, they’re a potential recruitment target. It’s standard practice. A gambling addict is a goldmine for recruitment work.”

Ukrainian operatives inside Russia have helped President Volodymyr Zelensky stage successful attacks deep inside Russian territory, such as the Operation Spiderweb drone attack, which destroyed a reported £5.2billion worth of the long-range bombing assets.

Vladimir Putin has continued to intensify drone and air strikes on Ukraine since the attack, with aerial attacks up more than 600% since the start of the year and July being the deadliest month for civilians in the eastern European country.

Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officer, Colonel Ivan Voronich, head of an SBU intelligence Special Operations Centre, was assassinated in broad daylight after Putin reportedly ordered the hit himself.

Spy chief Budanov also confirmed many spies working for his division lead 'full lives' inside Russia, adding that women were harder to recruit than men, while teenagers are offered monetary rewards in exchange for their services and information.

“Men are easier to recruit. Women are naturally more cunning and understand what’s happening much faster,” he said.