The SBU foiled a series of terrorist attacks in four Ukrainian cities: what is known
20 January 11:35
The Security Service of Ukraine’s counterintelligence unit prevented large-scale terrorist attacks in several regions of the country, including Kyiv, Chernihiv, Uman, and Odesa. During the special operation, a man suspected of collaborating with Russian military intelligence and preparing caches of explosives was detained. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the SBU.
Worked for Russian intelligence
According to the SBU, the detainee is a 55-year-old former law enforcement officer from the Odesa region. He came to the attention of the Russian special services after publishing anti-Ukrainian posts on social media, after which he was recruited.
The special services note that curators from the Russian Federation provided the agent with the coordinates of caches from which he took components for the manufacture of homemade explosive devices.
“The Russian special services planned to use the IEDs he made to blow up the cars of Ukrainian Defense Forces servicemen,” the SBU reported.
Caches with explosives and mines
During the investigation of the criminal activity, it was established that the suspect received:
- components for three homemade explosive devices based on plastic explosives and electric detonators;
- two anti-personnel mines.
He equipped the explosives with remote detonators and hid them in new hiding places, which were usually located on the outskirts of cities, away from residential areas.
Other members of the agent network were then supposed to pick up these devices and plant them under Ukrainian military vehicles.
Terrorist plot foiled
The SBU counterintelligence service uncovered the enemy’s plan in advance, documented the actions of the agent and his handler step by step, and then all the explosive devices were seized and destroyed.
In the final stage of the special operation, the suspect was detained, and during searches, additional components for the explosive devices were found in his possession.
Criminal charges and penalties
SBU investigators informed the detainee that he was suspected of several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular:
- treason under martial law;
- preparation for a terrorist act;
- illegal handling and manufacture of explosives and explosive devices.
The man is currently in custody. If proven guilty, he faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
