Russian security services report prevented terror plot tied to Ukrainian intel

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had foiled a planned terrorist attack in St. Petersburg and detained a Russian national who, according to the agency, had been recruited and trained by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in sabotage operations.

The information was released by the FSB’s Public Relations Centre (PRC) according to Russian media.

The PRC stated that Ukrainian intelligence services were preparing a “sabotage-terrorist act” in St. Petersburg, and that a Russian woman born in 1966 was arrested as a result of the operation. According to the FSB, the woman was allegedly recruited by the SBU while living in Ukraine and trained by her handlers in conducting sabotage and terrorist activities.

The agency said she entered Russia via third countries and attempted to retrieve a firearm and an improvised explosive device from a cache in the Smolensk region. The weapons, the FSB claimed, were intended for the assassination of an employee of a defence-industrial enterprise in the Leningrad region.

During the operation, security officers reportedly seized a Makarov pistol, an improvised explosive device built using foreign-made plastic explosives, and communication devices containing messages exchanged with coordinators of alleged terrorist activities based in Ukraine.

The Investigative Department of the FSB branch in the Smolensk region has opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 30 and Part 3 of Article 222.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, covering attempted acquisition of explosives or explosive devices. The detained woman has been placed in custody.

Authorities are also conducting further legal assessments to potentially expand the charges to include preparation for a terrorist act under Part 3 of Article 30 and Part 2 of Article 205, as well as high treason under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code.

By Tamilla Hasanova