FSB detains 18 suspected Ukrainian agents in Crimea this year

This is reported by the press service of Russia's Federal Security Service.

According to the agency's press service, a "deeply secretive branched agent network" was created by the Ukrainian special services under the control of "Western curators." It was allegedly formed to carry out sabotage and terrorist attacks against the Russian appointed "head" of the temporarily occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, the "head" of the Russian parliament of the temporarily occupied Crimea, Vladimir Konstantinov, the Russian mayor of Yalta, Yanin Pavlenko, pro-war Russian blogger Alexander Talipov, and former member of the Ukrainian parliament, Oleg Tsarev.

In addition, the FSB allegedly prevented 14 so-called sabotage attacks, including the bombing of six railroad sections, two gas distribution facilities, three power substations, and three vehicles.

According to the FSB, 18 agents and accomplices of the Ukrainian special services involved in five sabotage attacks on railway tracks in Simferopol, as well as the explosions of gas pipelines in Simferopol and Koreiz, and vehicles belonging to a representative of the administration of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region and military personnel of the Russian Ministry of Defense were detained.

Fifteen caches, allegedly prepared by Ukrainian special services, were found, from which the FSB allegedly seized 37 improvised explosive devices and more than 200 kg of explosives.

The FSB reported that 10 people have been convicted of preparing "sabotage".

"Currently, the authorities have initiated and are investigating more than 30 terrorist-related criminal cases, and are conducting the necessary set of investigative actions and operational and search activities. The crimes incriminated to the defendants are punishable by imprisonment for up to 25 years," the press service added.