Foiling Terrorist Plans in Odesa
The Security Service of Ukraine successfully prevented several terrorist attacks in Odesa. As a result of preemptive actions, three individuals working for the Russian agency were apprehended while planning to bomb vehicles and residences of Ukrainian soldiers and their families.
It has been established that these terrorist acts were to be carried out through remote activation of improvised explosive devices. In this manner, the aggressors aimed not only to eliminate military personnel but also to instill panic among the civilian population of Ukraine.
According to the Main Directorate of Internal Security of the SBU, the primary targets of the Russian agents were special forces of the Security Service and military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine engaged in combat on the southern front.
Initially, the suspects spent a considerable amount of time surveilling the residences of Ukrainian defenders and the parking of their vehicles.
Later, they received coordinates from the FSB for a stash from which they retrieved two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Both bombs were intended to be planted at the entrance of the apartments of two military personnel.
Following this, the terrorists were supposed to retrieve new IEDs from the stash to detonate the vehicles of their next targets.
However, SBU officers acted proactively and apprehended the perpetrators as they were en route to the homes of Ukrainian soldiers with the explosive devices.
According to the case materials, the enemy's task was executed by three local FSB agents: a 36-year-old draft evader and two accomplices — a deserter and a representative of a public order protection organization.
At the time of their arrest, IEDs and smartphones, which were used to coordinate their actions with a Russian handler, were seized from them.
SBU investigators filed charges against the agents under part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed in a state of war).
The offenders are being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with asset forfeiture.
Comprehensive measures were conducted in cooperation with the special operations forces and SBU investigators in the Odesa region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.
