Russian authorities have arrested six citizens, including three teenagers, on charges of "terrorism" and "high treason" for allegedly setting fire to railway and communication infrastructures on behalf of Ukraine.
Cracking Down on Terrorism
These individuals could face life imprisonment if convicted, according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
The FSB announced the arrests on Thursday, September 26, detailing that the group included minors, with one of the youngest suspects born in 2009.
The accusations are part of a broader crackdown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where authorities have intensified efforts to arrest individuals accused of espionage, treason, or collaboration with Ukraine, accordin to L'Independent.
Claimed Orders to Target Trains
According to the FSB, the suspects were recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and were promised payments ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 rubles ($100 to $150).
The specific targets of the fires were not disclosed, but state media aired footage of the suspects being detained.
The video showed FSB agents apprehending the individuals, some of whom had visible injuries. One of the detained suspects claimed they were contacted via the Telegram messaging app to carry out arson attacks.
Though the arrested individuals are accused of setting fire to cell phone towers, one suspect reported that they had been given instructions to create explosives for larger attacks, including targeting trains.
The arrests occurred in various regions of Russia, including Irkutsk, Nizhny Novgorod, and Samara, all far from the Ukrainian border.
