In Kharkiv, the counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine successfully thwarted a new attempt by Russian forces to carry out a terrorist act. An FSB agent was arrested, who was planning to detonate a homemade explosive device in the frontline city.
According to the investigation, the perpetrator turned out to be a local unemployed individual, previously convicted for participating in the attempted seizure of the regional administration in 2014.
At that time, the court sentenced him to 5 years in prison with a 3-year probation period. During his probation, he was recruited by an FSB officer and transferred into a «waiting mode».
As the investigation revealed, this autumn, the occupiers activated their agent via messenger and ordered him to produce explosives.
Soon, he was to place the explosives at coordinates provided by his Russian handler.
During searches at the suspect's residence, unfinished explosives and a smartphone with evidence of collaboration with the occupiers were seized.
Currently, the SBU has informed the detainee of suspicion under Article 14, Part 1, and Article 258, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (preparation for a terrorist act by a group of persons in conspiracy).
The suspect is in custody without the right to bail. He faces up to 12 years of imprisonment with property confiscation.
The issue of additional qualification of the suspect's criminal actions is being resolved.
These measures were conducted by SBU officers in the Kharkiv region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.