The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained a man in Kyiv suspected of organizing arson attacks on military vehicles on behalf of Russian special services. According to investigators, the suspect is a conscript who voluntarily left his service in the Kharkiv region, fled to the capital and began cooperating with Russian special services.
This was reported by the SBU on Wednesday, May 6.
Law enforcement officers found out that the suspect was looking for potential perpetrators of sabotage, recruiting them and coordinating subversive activities. The SBU said that in March of this year, they detained “hot on the trail” two recruited agents supervised by this suspect and who, on his instructions, set fire to cars in the Desnyanskyi district of the capital.
“The coordinator of the arsonists turned out to be a mobilized soldier who voluntarily left his service in the Kharkiv region and fled to the capital, where he began working for the enemy. He came to the attention of the Russian special services when he was looking for “quick money” in Telegram channels. After being recruited, he began to recruit local drug addicts to work for the FSB, who agreed to commit arson for a “per dose” amount,” the SBU said.
Arrest of suspect in arson attack on military vehicles in Kyiv. Security Service of Ukraine
According to their information, the perpetrators agreed with the resident on a potential “target”, and after the arson, they sent him photos and videos of the fire. He then reported to the FSB supervisor.
The suspect was detained at his place of residence in Kyiv. Law enforcement officers reported that during the searches, a smartphone with evidence of his work for the Russian special services was seized from him. The man was charged under Part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. The sanction of the article provides for up to 8 years of imprisonment. The defendant is currently in custody.
On April 29, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office reported that a court found three men guilty of sabotage and obstruction of the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For setting fire to a military vehicle and Ukrzaliznytsia relay cabinets, each was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.