The Security Service of Ukraine has successfully completed an operation aimed at neutralizing a Russian agent network in the western part of the country. During the investigation, three individuals were identified who were planning to prepare hideouts with components for homemade explosive devices (HED) intended for terrorist attacks in the region.
According to the case materials, the tasks were carried out by a 20-year-old resident of Kharkiv, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, and a 17-year-old youth from Rivne region. After recruiting minors, the occupiers used them under the pretext of courier work.
The investigation revealed that all three came under the radar of Russian intelligence services through Telegram channels offering 'easy earnings'.
In exchange for the promise of 'quick work', they were involved in establishing hideouts with components for HED, which were to be collected by potential attackers.
For instance, the minor received the geolocation of a hideout from a curator, from which she retrieved electric detonators for explosives and concealed them at a different 'address'.
At the same time, the occupiers assured the girl that she was dealing not with bomb components, but with ordinary 'radio antennas'.
Another individual, a resident of Kharkiv, followed instructions from the enemy to travel to the western region, retrieved an anti-personnel mine from a hideout, extracted plastic explosive from it, divided it into parts, disguised them in juice boxes, and placed them in a new hideout.
Furthermore, the 17-year-old youth from Rivne took the explosive substance from there and moved it to various hideouts designated by Russian intelligence operatives.
The SBU's counterintelligence unit uncovered all three individuals at an early stage of their subversive activities, documented each of them, and preemptively neutralized enemy hideouts.
An investigation is ongoing regarding all participants involved in criminal activities against our state.
The comprehensive measures were conducted by SBU employees in the Lviv region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.