Russia claims disruption of plot involving explosive device in Belgorod

Federal Security Service said it had prevented a planned attack in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation involving a local resident who, according to authorities, had been recruited by Ukrainian special services and was intended to act as a “live bomb.” The organisers of the alleged plot and their accomplices are currently being sought.

According to the agency, cited by Russian media, the woman had initially transferred a “large sum” of money to phone scammers. She was later contacted by unidentified individuals who presented themselves as Russian law enforcement officers. They persuaded her to participate in what they described as “measures to detain criminals,” claiming this would help recover her money.

Investigators said that, under the plan devised by the organisers, the woman was instructed to retrieve an explosive device from a hidden cache and detonate it in a crowded location.

“The detonation would inevitably have led to her death and significant casualties among the civilian population,” the agency said in its press release.

Instead of carrying out the instructions, the woman contacted the Federal Security Service. The explosive device was subsequently located and neutralised.

By Tamilla Hasanova