Russian man held over alleged plot to cut military communications

A Russian man born in 1989 has been detained in the Khabarovsk region after allegedly setting fire to a mobile phone tower on the instructions of a representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said.

According to FSB, the tower’s coverage area includes military units as well as state and municipal facilities in the region, Russian media reports.

The agency said the man had established contact online with a representative of Ukraine’s intelligence service and, following instructions, set fire to a base station operated by a mobile network provider.

He has been charged with high treason for allegedly assisting with Ukrainian intelligence services in activities against Russia’s security, as well as sabotage.

The man has been remanded in custody.

By Aghakazim Guliyev