Russia detains four teens in alleged Ukrainian-directed arson scheme

Four teenagers were detained in the Moscow region for carrying out arsons under instructions from Ukrainian handlers, after being deceived through online dating groups, TASS reports, citing the Public Relations Centre (PRC) of Russia’s FSB.

“In the Moscow region, the activities of four minors who committed arsons targeting transport infrastructure, communications, and the financial-credit system on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services have been stopped,” the PRC said.

According to the FSB, the detained teenagers communicated with girls in Telegram dating groups and, at their request, shared the locations of schools, shopping centres, and residential addresses. “Subsequently, individuals posing as Russian law enforcement officers contacted them via SIM-box numbers, claiming that the shared coordinates were used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to plan missile strikes and drone attacks,” the FSB reported.

Under the threat of criminal liability for aiding the enemy, the recruited minors were coerced into committing illegal acts under the pretext of “testing the anti-terrorist security of potential targets” and participating in other operational activities.