The SBU has detained two FSB agents who tried to eliminate several dozen Ukrainian service members in Kharkiv Region by organising a “charity” party for them.
“The Security Service’s military counterintelligence, under the personal coordination of SBU chief Major General Oleksandr Poklad, thwarted a series of terrorist attacks by Russian special services in Kharkiv Region,” the agency said in a press release.
The investigation found that both agents were recruited remotely by the enemy via Telegram channels offering “easy money.”
After agreeing to cooperate with the aggressor, they initially carried out test assignments: taking photo and video recordings of certain sites and setting fire to a Defence Forces vehicle.
Later, the Russians involved the agents in an attempt to kill Defence Forces troops during a “charity” party that was in fact organised by Russian special services. According to case materials, to lure Ukrainian service members to the “themed event,” the suspects rented a house outside the city and posted invitations to the party in a number of local Telegram channels.
Under the Russia’s plan, during the event the agents were to spike drinks with potent substances whose consumption leads to fatal consequences. It was established that several dozen people agreed to attend the party, most of them members of the Defence Forces.
At the same time, the suspects received an assignment from their handler to make a powerful bomb with a 10 kg explosive charge.
SBU military counterintelligence officers detained one of the suspects as he was carrying an improvised explosive device (IED) in his backpack. The other agent, a resident of Kharkiv Region, was detained at the rented house where she was synthesising components for the bomb.
During searches, investigators seized components for the IED as well as phones containing evidence of working for Russi, including instructions from the Russian handler regarding other intelligence and sabotage tasks.
At present, the detainees have been served with notices of suspicion, in line with the crimes committed, under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 1 of Article 14, Part 2 of Article 258 (terrorist act);
- Part 1 of Article 263 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives).
The suspects have been remanded in custody without the right to post bail. They face life imprisonment.