Poison in drinks and a 10-kilogram bomb: FSB agents were preparing a mass killing of military personnel

SBU Military Counterintelligence detained two FSB agents who, according to the investigation, were preparing a series of terrorist attacks in Kharkiv Oblast and attempted to eliminate several dozen Ukrainian servicemen. The July 27, 2026 report was issued by the Security Service of Ukraine. The operation was conducted under the personal coordination of the head of the SBU, Major General Oleksandr Poklad.

The investigation established that the man and woman were recruited remotely through Telegram channels, where “easy earnings” were offered. At first they photographed and filmed individual sites, and also set fire to a vehicle of the Defense Forces. Later Russian special services instructed the agents to organize a so-called “charity” party. For this the suspects rented a house outside the city and posted invitations in local Telegram channels. Several dozen people agreed to attend the event, most of whom were members of the Defense Forces.

According to the FSB’s plan, during the party the agents were to add potent substances to the drinks capable of causing death. At the same time they were tasked with manufacturing a powerful bomb with an explosive charge weighing 10 kilograms.

SBU officers detained one of the suspects when he was carrying an improvised explosive device in a backpack. His accomplice, a resident of Kharkiv region, was detained in the rented house where she was preparing components for the bomb. During searches, law enforcement seized components of the explosive device and mobile phones with evidence of contacts with the Russian handler and instructions for other reconnaissance-sabotage tasks.

The detainees were notified of suspicion of preparing a terrorist act and illegal handling of explosive substances — under Part 1 of Art. 14, Part 2 of Art. 258 and Part 1 of Art. 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court kept them in custody without the right to post bail. According to the SBU, the suspects face life imprisonment.

Earlier we wrote:

• SBU detained an agent of the Russian Federation who tried to carry out a terrorist attack in Mykolaiv
• Russia recruits Ukrainian girls via Telegram to kill servicemen
• “Easy earnings” ended in pre-trial detention: a young man leaked to the enemy the aftermath of strikes on Kyiv
• They wanted a “gift” for May 9: SBU foiled an assassination attempt on a senior naval officer of the Ukrainian Navy in Odesa
• The bicycle didn’t help: the “tourist” killer failed the Russian handlers’ special assignment