SBU in Izmail foiled a series of terrorist attacks: detained a female Russian agent with explosives
A 27-year-old resident of the Zhytomyr region, according to investigators, was preparing remote detonations of military and law-enforcement vehicles near administrative buildings
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported preventing a series of possible terrorist attacks in Odesa region. In the city of Izmail, counterintelligence officers detained a 27-year-old resident of Zhytomyr region who, according to the investigation, cooperated with Russian special services and was preparing to sabotage vehicles of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
According to the SBU, the potential targets were the vehicles of Ukrainian servicemen and law enforcement officers. The cars were parked near administrative buildings.
According to the investigation, the Russian special services contacted the woman through Telegram channels where she was offered “easy earnings.” After recruitment she came to Izmail, rented accommodation and received instructions from a Russian handler on how to manufacture three improvised explosive devices.
According to law enforcement, the explosives were to be triggered remotely. At the same time the suspect conducted reconnaissance near Ukrainian defense facilities and photographed Defense Forces vehicles parked nearby. The Russian side could have used the collected data to prepare attacks and information operations.
SBU officers detained the woman before the crime was committed. By that time she had already prepared an explosive device disguised in a bag and was awaiting instructions from the handler on where to place it.
During a search, law enforcement seized from the detainee two ready explosives, components for making improvised explosive devices and mobile phones. According to the investigation, the phones were used to communicate with the Russian side.
The woman was notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 14 and Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — preparation for committing a terrorist act.
Currently the suspect is held in custody without the right to post bail. If found guilty she may face up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The SBU also recalled that it earlier prevented a terrorist attack in central Mykolaiv. At that time law enforcement detained an agent of the Russian special services who, according to the investigation, was preparing to kill a serviceman using an improvised explosive device.
Previously we wrote:
