A trial is set to begin in the Odesa region for members of an organized criminal group who committed acts of sabotage and arson at the behest of enemy forces. The Odesa regional prosecutor's office has submitted an indictment against five individuals who carried out 14 arson attacks on critical infrastructure, including the Ukrainian Railways and government buildings.

The investigation revealed that the accused received orders from a Russian intelligence officer to carry out destabilizing actions in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district for financial compensation.

Over several months, they organized arson attacks on relay and battery cabinets along railway lines, transformer substations, administrative buildings, cellular towers, and water supply facilities.

The perpetrators acted at night, using flammable substances and specialized tools to access technical cabinets, along with pre-arranged transportation that allowed them to move quickly between the targets.

For their completed tasks, they received payments to a virtual wallet in the mobile app GlobalMoney, which were then distributed among the group members.

The group consisted of five men aged between 21 and 34, all residents of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district. They were arrested at the end of January 2025 and are currently in custody.

The accused face charges of sabotage, intentional damage to property, including energy and telecommunications facilities.

The investigation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine in Odesa region under the procedural guidance of the Odesa regional prosecutor's office.