Ukraine arrests 16-year-old Russian spy plotting terror attack in Kharkiv PHOTO

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police have detained a 16-year-old agent of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) who was preparing a terrorist attack in central Kharkiv.

Investigators found that the minor was assembling an improvised explosive device by himself, intended to be planted in an apartment in a multi-story building, Caliber.Az reports, citing the SBU's Telegram channel.

The plan involved luring police to the site through a fake emergency call to 102 and then detonating the bomb. The SBU intercepted the plot and arrested the suspect in a hotel room while he was finalising the explosive device.

The teenager, a resident of Odesa, had been recruited by Russians via Telegram while seeking “easy work.” Promised “quick side jobs,” he travelled to Kharkiv, where a Russian handler provided coordinates to a stash containing 4 kg of explosives, a phone, and other components. 

He then followed Russian instructions to assemble the bomb in the hotel room. Authorities confiscated the explosive device and a smartphone containing evidence of his cooperation with Russian intelligence.

The suspect has been charged under Part 1 of Article 14 and Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (preparation of a terrorist act by prior conspiracy of a group). He faces up to 12 years in prison and asset confiscation.

By Jeyhun Aghazada