Authorities detain 18-year-old Russian agent in Kharkiv over planned attacks near government buildings
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the National Police have thwarted new attempts to carry out a series of attacks in Kharkiv. As a result of operational measures, an 18-year-old suspected Russian agent who was preparing attacks in the city center has been detained. The suspect is currently in custody.
This was reported by the SBU.
According to the investigation, the suspect was tasked with manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and placing them near administrative buildings in the frontline city. Russian operatives allegedly planned to detonate the devices remotely during peak hours using mobile phone calls connected to the explosives.
SBU officers uncovered the plot in advance and detained the suspect “red-handed” in a rented apartment while he was assembling the IEDs.
According to case materials, the suspect is an 18-year-old drug user who was recruited via a Telegram channel advertising “easy money.”
Following instructions from a handler in Russia, he purchased components for the explosives and began assembling them using improvised materials.
During searches of the rented apartment, investigators seized 2.5 liters of chemical liquid, electrical components for detonation, and a smartphone containing evidence of communication with Russian operatives.
SBU investigators have formally charged the suspect under Part 1 of Article 14, Part 5 of Article 27, and Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding in the preparation of a terrorist act committed by a group of persons in prior conspiracy).
The suspect remains in custody and faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
In a separate case, in Rivne, another suspected Russian agent was preparing an attack using an improvised explosive device made from a cooking pot.
The SBU previously detained a suspect in the Kharkiv region who was gathering intelligence for missile and air strikes on Ukrainian positions in the Kupiansk direction.
In addition, the SBU detained another suspect who, under the guise of fulfilling defense contracts, was allegedly coordinating air strikes on Kyiv.
Another suspect was also detained in Zaporizhzhia while attempting to infiltrate a strategic defense industry enterprise.
Separately, an SBU employee was detained on suspicion of accepting a $68,000 bribe.
The SBU also exposed seven pro-Russian agitators operating across five regions of Ukraine.
