In a significant operation carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a clandestine group linked to the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation, planning to conduct sabotage in the Kyiv region, has been dismantled, ensuring the safety of countless citizens and safeguarding critical national infrastructure.
According to official sources from the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office, the operation unveiled a group of individuals who, starting April 2023, conspired to execute terrorist acts in Kyiv and its surrounding areas.
The group was acting under direct instructions from the FSB, marking a severe attempt to destabilize Ukraine.
Investigations revealed that the group, comprising three individuals, meticulously planned a series of terrorist attacks targeting military installations and crucial infrastructure.
High on their list of targets were units of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, including their reserve command posts.
In their pursuit of information, the perpetrators endeavored to exploit their connections within the Ukrainian military, seeking to covertly gather intelligence on the locations of Ukrainian facilities.
Additionally, they employed drones to conduct aerial reconnaissance, gathering data on the Armed Forces of Ukraine's positions.
To maintain their cover, the group went to great lengths, constantly changing their residences and even resorting to arson—setting fire to an apartment to erase any evidence of their activities, which involved the creation of homemade explosives.
The diligence of the Ukrainian law enforcement culminated in raids conducted in Kyiv and Chernihiv, where explosives, detonators, firearms, and ammunition were seized.
The evidence gathered was robust, leading to the detention of the accused individuals.
Now facing the legal ramifications of their actions, the suspects have been formally charged under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Article 258-3, for the creation of, or participation in, a terrorist group or organization; and Article 263-1, for illegal activities involving firearms and explosives.
If convicted, they stand to face up to 15 years in prison.
