Detained Russian man admits plan to sabotage Transneft facility UPDATED

A Russian man detained in Tyumen has admitted that he planned to carry out an explosion at a Transneft facility on the orders of Ukrainian intelligence services, according to TASS.

“During correspondence with a Ukrainian handler, possible targets, including energy infrastructure in Tyumen and the FSB, were discussed. In February, I received SIM cards from the handler via a dead drop to maintain covert communication, as well as a homemade explosive device intended to blow up a Transneft pipeline near the Tyumen ring road,” the detainee said. He was arrested while attempting to retrieve the explosive device.

Earlier, the FSB reported that three alleged accomplices of Ukrainian intelligence services were detained in the Republic of Adygea, Tyumen region, and Krasnodar.

Another detainee also confessed to his involvement, saying he was tasked with assassinating a Russian serviceman.

“By order of the handler, I was supposed to kill a Russian serviceman by blowing up his car. I received coordinates of a cache with an improvised explosive device. I was detained by FSB officers while attempting to retrieve it,” the suspect stated.

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Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained three individuals in the Tyumen region, Krasnodar region, and the Republic of Adygea on suspicion of being “accomplices of Ukrainian intelligence services” preparing terrorist attacks, the FSB’s Public Relations Centre said.

The suspects were planning sabotage and terrorist acts targeting Russian servicemen, a volunteer organisation supporting participants in what Moscow calls its “special military operation,” as well as transport infrastructure and fuel and energy facilities in the mentioned regions, TASS reports.

The FSB said the alleged activity was detected and stopped in time by its officers. During the searches, investigators seized a homemade explosive device based on a plastic explosive of foreign manufacture, as well as improvised incendiary devices.

The agency added that correspondence with Ukrainian handlers containing instructions for planned attacks was found on the suspects’ phones.

Regional FSB investigative units have opened criminal cases on charges including attempted terrorism and illegal possession of explosives or explosive devices.

By Jeyhun Aghazada