SBU uncovers Russian intelligence operative planning series of terrorist attacks in Kyiv's metro, shopping centers

According to Ukrinform, the SBU reported this on its website.

 According to the article, through preemptive actions, SBU disrupted the enemy's plans and identified the organizer of these contract crimes. The individual turned out to be a resident of temporarily occupied Crimea who, after the peninsula's capture, began working for the Russian special services.

The investigation found that the suspect was recruiting like-minded individuals for eventual recruitment into the FSB's agent network. Among them were local acquaintances holding Ukrainian citizenship who were too young to be subject to mobilization in Ukraine.

The SBU documented an attempt to send a Crimea-based recruit to Kyiv, who crossed the Ukrainian border via third countries. Upon arrival in the capital, the agent received from the Crimea-based operative the coordinates of a stash where he was to retrieve a loaded Makarov pistol.

It was established that the FSB tasked the agent with carrying out a contract killing of a media figure in Kyiv using this weapon. He was also assigned to prepare terrorist attacks in several shopping centers and at a metro station in the capital. For this purpose, the agent received instructions for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which were hidden in backpacks. Each explosive was to be equipped with a mobile phone for remote detonation during peak hours when the locations would be most crowded.

The goal was to spread panic among Kyiv residents and destabilize the socio-political situation in the city. The SBU exposed the agent in advance and documented all his contacts with the FSB, which took place through the Crimea-based operative.

Law enforcement authorities have formally charged the Crimea-based operative under Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law); Part 2 of Article 258 (terrorist act); and Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives).

Since the suspect remains in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, comprehensive measures are ongoing to bring him to justice. Investigations are also underway regarding all participants in the FSB agent network.

The Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office reported that the 55-year-old suspect, agreeing to cooperate with the Russians, sought Ukrainian military personnel willing to sell technical documentation and components of the U.S. HIMARS multiple launch rocket system for sums ranging from $200,000 to $1 million. Under the supervision of Ukrainian special services, he ultimately received imitation HIMARS documentation from one military unit already equipped with the system.

The suspect also sought executors to carry out terrorist attacks aimed at intimidating Ukrainian citizens. He tracked journalists and bloggers whose murders were intended to shock society. The criminal operative was promised $20,000 and given instructions on where to obtain a Makarov pistol for the crime.

Thus, the man organized assassination attempts on two individuals—a Kherson journalist and a press officer of a Ukrainian Armed Forces brigade. One attack involved a pistol, and the other a knife, as the weapon was discarded after the first attempt. The operations were carried out under the control of Ukrainian special services.

As Ukrinform previously reported, the SBU also detained a Russian agent spying on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' combat aviation.