The SBU has detained an agent of the Russian Federation who was preparing a terrorist attack in central Rivne near one of the government institutions. This was reported in a press release by the security service.
The investigation found that the suspect planted an improvised bomb in a rubbish bin near an administrative building and, via a messenger app, “reported” this to his handler in Russia.
Subsequently, the Russians planned to detonate the explosive remotely during rush hour to cause the maximum number of civilian casualties.
In this way, the enemy hoped to destabilise the socio-political situation in Ukraine’s border region.
SBU officers uncovered the hostile plan in advance and detained the agent “red-handed” as he tried to flee the scene of the planned attack in haste. At the same time, the improvised bomb was seized and neutralised.
According to investigators, the assignment from the aggressor state was being carried out by a courier for a local delivery service who had been recruited by the Russian invaders. He came to the attention of Russian intelligence operatives through Telegram channels advertising “easy money”. After being recruited, under the pretext of making deliveries, the agent rode around the city on a moped in order to film the external perimeters and parking areas of state facilities on his phone.
In this way, the perpetrator scouted out a location for the attack, regularly “reporting” to his handler in Russia. Later, a Russian intelligence officer sent his accomplice the coordinates of a cache, from which he subsequently collected an improvised remote-activated explosive device.
During searches, officers seized a smartphone from the detainee, where he stored reconnaissance photos and used it to communicate with the Russian intelligence officer.
SBU investigators have now served the agent with a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 15 and Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (attempted commission of a terrorist act).
The suspect is being held in custody without the right to post bail. He faces up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property. In addition, the issue of additionally classifying the detainee’s crimes as treason is being considered.