The Security Service and National Police apprehended six young individuals aged between 13 and 27 in three regions of Ukraine for committing arson on facilities of "Ukrzaliznytsia" and military vehicles on behalf of Russian special services.
Source: SBU press service
Direct quote: "According to the case materials, the orders from the Russian Federation were carried out by local residents recruited by the FSB, the youngest among them being just 13 years old. They came under the influence of the occupiers while searching for "easy money" in Telegram channels. Initially, the suspects coordinated potential "targets" with their curators, and then destroyed them using flammable substances."
Details: In particular, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, two minors from the city of Samara were arrested for burning several relay cabinets of signaling installations that regulate train movements.
They had plans to identify and set fire to vehicles of Ukrainian defenders but were arrested "in the act" after committing their crimes on the railway.
In the Odesa region, two more youths aged 17 and 18, along with a 27-year-old resident of Chornomorsk, were arrested for separately executing orders from the Russian Federation.
The perpetrators destroyed three relay cabinets of "Ukrzaliznytsia" and a military SUV that was undergoing maintenance after completing tasks at the front.
Additionally, in Chernihiv, a 24-year-old welder from a local service station was arrested for attempting to set fire to a Ukrainian soldier's vehicle. He intended to ignite the vehicle directly on the service station's premises, staging it as if it were done by "third parties" who had infiltrated the area at night.
SBU operatives acted preemptively and apprehended the criminal when he had already prepared flammable material for the act.
All suspects have been informed of their charges in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code.
The offenders are currently in custody. The issue of holding the 13-year-old suspect accountable is being resolved.
