The Security Service of Ukraine has uncovered an intelligence network of Russian special services that was planning a mass terrorist attack against military personnel in the Kyiv region.
According to a statement on the SBU website, as a result of a special operation, four members of the Russian intelligence network were detained, who were preparing to detonate explosives at the entrance of a building housing one of the Defense Forces units.
"According to the investigation materials, the improvised explosive device was hidden in a tactical backpack, which was to be delivered to the restricted facility by a minor agent of the Russian special services disguised in Ukrainian military uniform. The enemy was monitoring his movements in real-time and planned to detonate the explosives as soon as the young man entered the premises," the SBU reported.
It is emphasized that the agent, who was supposed to be detonated, was unaware of the fatal outcome being prepared for him.
"He believed that the IED would be detonated after he exited the building," the Service added.
Thus, the SBU counterintelligence preemptively uncovered the enemy's plans and took measures to prevent the attack. The minor terrorist and three other agents involved in planning this crime were detained.
"As the investigation established, Russian special services aimed to destabilize the socio-political situation in Ukraine with this terrorist act and create an illusion of conflict within the Defense Forces, where one 'military' person would blow up others in protest," the statement said.
It is also noted that all four suspects acted separately from one another but had a common curator from Russia. One of the agents was a 16-year-old student from the Kirovohrad region. He received coordinates from the occupiers for a cache where he obtained explosives and military gear.
Another network participant was a 19-year-old man who, according to preliminary data, transported explosives and military gear from the "initial cache" to a hideout, where the 16-year-old agent picked them up.
The "initial cache" was set up by two residents of Vinnytsia region. Following video instructions from a representative of the Russian special services, they constructed the explosive device and concealed it in a specific location.
During searches, mobile phones containing evidence of their collaboration with the aggressor were seized from the detainees. Additionally, one of the agents had 1.5 kg of explosive mixture for making improvised explosive devices confiscated.
SBU investigators informed the suspects of their charges in accordance with the committed crimes under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 111 (treason committed in a state of war) and Part 2 of Article 263 (illegal handling of weapons, military supplies, or explosives).
The detainees are being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with asset confiscation.
Terrorist Attacks in Ukraine
As reported by UNIAN, on December 14, an explosion occurred near one of the administrative buildings in the central area of Dnipro, resulting in the death of a man and injuries to four others, including two police officers.
Subsequently, the SBU announced the detention of a man who detonated an improvised explosive device near the building of the territorial center for recruitment and social support. He turned out to be a previously convicted 37-year-old resident of the region.
Later, the court imposed a detention measure on the suspect for 60 days without the right to bail. Thus, he will remain in custody until February 12.