An 18-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to set fire to a relay cabinet in Chernivtsi
In Bukovina, a court sentenced an 18-year-old man to 15 years in prison for setting fire to strategic railway equipment at the behest of Russian intelligence agencies.
The perpetrator agreed to carry out the sabotage in exchange for a monetary reward, but he was quickly apprehended by law enforcement.
The investigation established that the young man had moved to Chernivtsi after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In late November 2025, he found an easy way to make money online and, via the Telegram messenger app, received a detailed proposal from a representative of the Russian special services to set fire to a relay cabinet.
The organizers clearly laid out a price list for the destruction of state property, depending on the complexity of the task.
To carry out his criminal plan, the young man first conducted a reconnaissance of the railroad tracks and located the necessary equipment near a railroad crossing. He took several photos of the site and sent them to his Russian handler for approval.
He was promised $500 for setting fire to an open relay cabinet and $200–300 for setting fire to a closed one. Ultimately, the parties agreed on a sum of $250.
To prepare for the arson, the handler transferred $7 to the perpetrator to purchase flammable substances. After receiving detailed instructions, the young man bought gasoline, made his way to the designated relay cabinet, doused it with fuel, and set it on fire.
However, the suspect was unable to carry out the plan to the end, as the crossing guard on duty noticed the fire in time and quickly extinguished it.
This was officially reported on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by the press service of the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
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