The Security Service of Ukraine's counterintelligence disrupted new attempts by Russian intelligence agencies to destabilize the internal situation in Dnipro. As a result of preemptive actions, a local couple was arrested for preparing terrorist attacks in the frontline city on orders from Russian forces.
To carry out the task, the suspects set up six hiding places in the regional center and its outskirts, containing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and F-1 grenades.
The Russian forces planned to recruit a new group of agents to retrieve the explosives from these hideouts and use them for bombings in crowded areas.
In addition to preparing the caches, both traitors, under the direction of Russian intelligence officers, "supervised" the execution of sabotage operations by other agents.
For example, the suspects recorded the aftermath of an arson attack on a post office carried out by other Russian accomplices, who had already been arrested by the SBU. The "report" was sent to their handler in Russia via a messenger.
SSU officers identified the traitor couple in advance, documented their crimes, and arrested them.
According to the investigation, they were a 42-year-old contract soldier from one of the military units who conducted sabotage activities during his vacations, and his 24-year-old wife, who was recruited by the Russian forces via a Telegram channel.
During a search, new IEDs disguised as thermoses and reinforced with screws were seized, along with phones and SIM cards used for communication with their handler.
The SSU investigators informed the suspects of charges under three articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code:
- Part 2 of Article 111 (treason committed during martial law)
- Part 1 of Article 263 (illegal handling of military ammunition or explosives)
- Part 2 of Article 263-1 (illegal manufacture of an explosive device, committed by a group of persons in collusion)
The criminals are being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with asset confiscation.
