The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented new terrorist attacks in Odessa. As a result of preemptive actions, three FSB agents were detained while preparing to blow up vehicles and homes belonging to Ukrainian soldiers and their families.
It was established that the attacks were planned to be carried out through the remote activation of improvised explosive devices. In this way, Russian forces hoped not only to kill military personnel but also to spread panic among Ukraine’s civilian population.
According to the SSU’s Main Department of Internal Security and Investigations, the primary targets of the Russian agent network were special operations officers of the Security Service of Ukraine and servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine involved in combat operations on the southern front.
Initially, the suspects spent a long time surveilling the places of residence of Ukrainian defenders and the locations where their vehicles were parked.
They later received coordinates from the FSB for a cache from which they retrieved two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The perpetrators planned to place both bombs near the entrances to the apartments of two servicemen of the Defense Forces.
After that, the terrorists were supposed to collect new IEDs from additional hiding places in order to blow up the vehicles of their next targets.
SSU officers acted preemptively and detained the suspects while they were traveling with explosive devices to the homes of Ukrainian servicemen.
According to the case materials, the tasks were carried out by three local FSB agents: a 36-year-old draft evader and two accomplices — a deserter and a member of a civic organization involved in maintaining public order.
At the time of arrest, IEDs and smartphones were seized from the suspects. The phones were used to coordinate their actions with a Russian intelligence officer.
The suspects are being held in custody without the right to post bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
