The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police conducted a special operation with 37 searches and neutralized an FSB agent group that was preparing arson attacks and targeting shopping centers, gas stations and other facilities in Ukraine and the EU, the SBU reported on Thursday, UNN reports.
SBU CI and the National Police prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Ukraine and the European Union. As a result of a special operation in different regions of our country, an FSB agent group that was preparing arson attacks in crowded places was neutralized. The main targets of the enemy were shopping centers, gas stations, pharmacies and markets in Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states
During complex measures in Prykarpattia, the SBU noted, "the organizer of the hostile cell and his accomplice were detained." "The attackers acted as part of a criminal group whose activities were remotely coordinated by Russian special services," the statement said.
The criminal group, according to the SBU, consisted of 19 people who were dispersed in Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, Poltava regions and Zaporizhzhia.
According to the investigation, the defendants recruited candidates for arson attacks on civilian objects for money, and used personal connections in criminal circles to find potential perpetrators.
"In order to 'send' the recruited arsonists abroad, the defendants prepared forged documents for them. In particular, passports, driver's licenses, diplomas of education and medical cards issued to third parties. In this way, the Russian agent planned to illegally transport their accomplices outside Ukraine and "legalize" them in the EU," the SBU said.
After committing the arson attacks, the perpetrators reportedly "were supposed to film the fire on their own phones for further ‘reporting’ to the FSB." The aggressor planned to use the media files to prepare special information operations aimed at undermining the socio-political situation in the EU, the special service noted.
According to the SBU, during 37 searches of the defendants' homes, cars and garages, the evidence was seized:
- cell phones, flash drives, draft records and forged documents used in subversive activities;
- AK assault rifle, pistols, including Glock 19 with ammunition and silencers;
- bank cards and large sums of cash spent on recruiting potential arsonists.
Currently, the organizer of the FSB agent group and his accomplice have been served suspicion notices (in accordance with the crimes committed) under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including: Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law); Part 3 of Article 358 (forgery of documents, seals, stamps and forms, sale or use of forged documents, seals, stamps).
Investigative actions and operational measures to bring all perpetrators to justice are ongoing. The offenders face life imprisonment.