On the night of 15 November in Ivano-Frankivsk, police detained a local resident near the site where a car had been set on fire.
This was reported by the communications department of the Ivano-Frankivsk region police.
According to investigators, he acted on instructions from a Russian handler who promised him money for carrying out tasks.
It is noted that over three consecutive nights, arson attacks on four vehicles were recorded in the regional centre.
On the night of 13 November on Karpatska Street, an arson attack damaged an Audi and a Jeep Compass. On the night of 14 November on Pivdennyi Boulevard, a Volkswagen Transporter was set on fire.
On 15 November at around 03:50, police received a report of a Volkswagen Touareg burning in a courtyard on Naberezhna Street. As a result of the fire, two other vehicles were also damaged.
Detectives from the criminal investigation department, staff from the regional police criminal analysis unit, and officers from the Ivano-Frankivsk District Police Department were involved in the search for those responsible. As a result of joint operational measures with SBU officers, law enforcement identified the suspect.
He was detained the same night near the arson site on Naberezhna Street.
Investigators established that the student came across an advert for “easy” money in one of the groups on social media. He was offered cash for setting cars on fire. To confirm completion of the tasks, the young man filmed each arson attack and sent the recordings to the handler via a messaging app. During an inspection of his mobile phone, officers found video recordings of the arson attacks.
During an urgent search at the suspect’s home address, police seized clothing and footwear which, according to investigators, he used during the arson attacks, as well as other physical evidence.
Under the procedural supervision of the Ivano-Frankivsk City District Prosecutor’s Office, investigators served the man with a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in connection with the arson attacks on an Audi, a Jeep Compass and a Volkswagen Touareg. The sanction under this article provides for a penalty of up to ten years’ imprisonment.
Separately, police are checking the suspect’s possible involvement in the arson of a Volkswagen Transporter belonging to a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A pre-trial investigation is ongoing in this case under Part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.