Five individuals who set cars on fire on behalf of Russia were apprehended in the Cherkasy region
The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have detained five individuals suspected of carrying out arson attacks on behalf of Russian intelligence agencies in the Cherkasy region.
This was reported by the SBU.
According to reports, the suspects are local residents aged 18–21 who, according to the investigation, were recruited through dating channels on Telegram.
According to the case file, Russian handlers used fake female accounts to establish long-term communication with young men and propose meetings.
On the day of the so-called “date,” the suspects received calls from unknown individuals who, posing as Ukrainian law enforcement officers, informed them that their “online partners” were allegedly linked to enemy intelligence services.
After that, according to the investigation, Russian handlers resorted to fraud and blackmail, forcing the young men to participate in a so-called “special operation.”
They were ordered to set fire at night to bank branches and civilian vehicles that allegedly belonged to “traitors.”
According to the case file, the suspects attempted to burn down one civilian vehicle and four bank branches in Cherkasy. All suspects were apprehended “red-handed.”
During searches, smartphones were seized containing evidence of their involvement in the arson attacks and their communication with their handlers.
Currently, three individuals have already been notified of suspicion under the article on the intentional destruction or damage of property by arson. Regarding the other two suspects, the issue of additional legal classification of their actions is being decided.
Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the National Police, detained a citizen of an Eastern European country in the Kyiv region who turned out to be an FSB agent and was carrying out arson attacks on behalf of the enemy.
Previously, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine detained an 18-year-old resident of the Kremenchuk district who was passing information to Russian intelligence services about the movements of military convoys of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As a reminder, a court in Kyiv found a 57-year-old native of the Luhansk region guilty of intentionally setting fire to three cars and sentenced him to five years in prison.
Also in Kyiv, an FSB agent who planned to set fire to the Institute of National Remembrance was detained.
