In Odessa, four men have been apprehended for the murder of a volunteer entrepreneur, executed at the behest of Russian intelligence agencies using a homemade explosive device detonated near his residence.

According to reports from the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office, the crime took place on January 20 at approximately 10:40 PM outside a private home in the Peresyp district of Odessa. The terrorist act resulted in the death of the 54-year-old homeowner, a local entrepreneur engaged in volunteer work.

"The attack was carried out by four Odessa residents who were recruited by Russian intelligence and acted in the interest of the aggressor state. For a monetary reward, they agreed to manufacture explosives and detonate them at a predetermined location. They were promised $2,500 for carrying out the attack," the prosecutor's office stated.

It was noted that one of the suspects crafted the explosive device from readily available materials. A representative of the Russian intelligence service guided the process and provided detailed instructions online. The other three picked up the explosives and planted them by the victim's fence next to a parked car. To document the attack, the perpetrators set up a mobile phone across from the house in live-streaming mode.

According to law enforcement, to lure the volunteer to his car, the assailants set it on fire. The man went outside to extinguish the flames but was unable to take any action before the explosive device detonated, resulting in his immediate death.

"Subsequently, the agents called the client, who was watching the crime unfold in real time. He confirmed the completion of the task and transferred $1,000, which they divided among themselves," the report stated.

They were exposed and arrested the day after the crime, which helped prevent further terrorist acts, the prosecutor's office informed.

All four perpetrators have been charged with committing a terrorist act that resulted in a person's death (Part 3, Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). They have been remanded in custody without the right to bail. The men face a potential sentence of 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.

The regional SBU office reported that they detained the suspects while they were preparing an explosion near one of the regional police departments.

"The terrorists planned to set several service vehicles on fire, and then, when the police arrived at the scene of the fire, remotely detonate a homemade explosive device," the office clarified.

Investigations revealed that to execute this plan, the suspects had settled in a hostel near the target, purchased four canisters of gasoline for the arson, and kept explosives disguised as a fire extinguisher in a pre-prepared hideout.

SBU and National Police officers apprehended the perpetrators during the preparation stage for this attack, and their trail was uncovered during the investigation into the murder of the volunteer.

According to the investigation, the offenders include three individuals with substance abuse issues aged between 23 and 45, along with a 46-year-old accomplice, who had previously served time for theft and robbery. The recidivist operated separately from the rest of the group and was responsible for the production of explosives and their placement in hideouts.

Detention of a Spy Disguised as a Woman in Odessa Region

In the Odessa region, a young man who was spying for Russia was arrested while impersonating a woman. He assumed this identity almost like the character from the famous comedy "Tootsie," who transformed into a woman in search of work. Specifically, a 26-year-old resident of Izmail established contact with a representative of the Russian intelligence services via messenger and agreed to collaborate. He was supposed to provide information about military facilities in the Izmail region for money. The traitor consistently dressed in women’s clothing and grew long hair. According to photos released by law enforcement, the young man even dyed his "hairstyle" and had professional manicures—during his arrest, his very long (possibly extended) nails were painted black.