Kyiv sees surge in sabotage and terrorism cases orchestrated by Russia

This is according to the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

“Since the start of 2024, there have been 18 criminal offenses recorded in the Kyiv region, including arson of military personnel’s cars, sabotage of railway relay cabinets, and placement of explosive devices with shrapnel elements. This is double the amount compared to last year,” the Prosecutor's Office stated.

The department reported that over the year, the following cases were registered:

• 7 criminal cases under Article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (sabotage);
• 8 cases under Article 114-1 (interference with lawful activities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces);
• 3 cases under Article 258 (terrorism).

Who is Russia recruiting for sabotage?

The Prosecutor's Office highlighted that Russian special services often exploit vulnerable groups, including minors, to carry out sabotage activities.

“They recruit people via social media platforms like Telegram, Instagram, and TikTok. By offering monetary rewards, they persuade them that these acts are justified. In case of trouble with law enforcement, they promise to ‘solve’ any issues,” the department explained.

Recent cases

Recently, two Kyiv region residents were charged with detonating a homemade explosive near a local police department. The attack took place just as officers were walking by.

“The suspects were detained under Article 208 of Ukraine’s Criminal Procedure Code and charged with committing a terrorist act under Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code. They are currently under 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring. However, prosecutors appealed, requesting detention as a preventive measure,” added the Prosecutor's Office.

Investigators revealed that Russian operatives provided detailed instructions for assembling remote-controlled explosives. These devices were detonated or triggered via mobile phones and recorded in real-time.

Note: Under Article 62 of Ukraine’s Constitution, individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court ruling.

• Earlier, five individuals were detained in Kirovohrad and Vinnytsia regions for allegedly setting fire to Ukrzaliznytsia and Ukrposhta facilities.