Ukraine prevents Russian terrorist attack on military facility in Kyiv region

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General.

Counterintelligence detained four individuals involved in a Russian spy network planning to plant explosives in a building housing a Ukrainian Defense Forces unit.

According to the investigation, a homemade explosive device was concealed in a tactical backpack, which a minor agent of Russian intelligence, disguised in a Ukrainian Armed Forces uniform, was supposed to carry into the restricted facility.

The Prosecutor General's Office added that the young man, after arriving in Kyiv region, checked into a hotel near the designated crime site and followed instructions he received via Telegram from his Russian handler.

He retrieved the backpack containing the explosive device and Ukrainian military uniform, changed into the uniform, and went to the location to plant the explosives.

The Russians planned to remotely detonate the explosives as soon as the boy entered the building, but the agent was unaware of the threat to his life, believing the explosion would occur only after he exited the building.

"Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine uncovered Russian plans in advance and took a series of measures to prevent the terrorist attack. As a result, the minor terrorist and three other agents involved in planning the crime were detained," the SBU reported.

According to the statement, the objective of the attack was to destabilize the socio-political situation in Ukraine and create the illusion of a conflict within the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

It was established that the detainees acted separately but under the control of one Russian handler. Among the arrested was a 16-year-old student from the Kirovohrad region, who received the coordinates of the explosive's location from the Russian. Another participant was a 19-year-old man who transported the explosives and military uniform from the "initial cache" to a hiding place, where they were picked up by the 16-year-old agent.

The "initial cache" was set up by two women from the Vinnytsia region. Following a video instruction from a Russian intelligence officer, they made the explosive device and hid it at a designated location.

During searches, the detainees were found with mobile phones that confirmed their connections with Russia, as well as 1.5 kg of explosive mixture for creating a homemade explosive device.

Investigators informed the suspects of charges under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 2 of Article 111 (treason committed during martial law);
• Part 2 of Article 263 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives).

The detainees are held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.

• A man was detained in Chernihiv for shouting pro-Russian words during a moment of silence at the memorial to Ukrainian fallen defenders.