The SSU Counterintelligence and the National Police have thwarted a terrorist attack plotted by the russian intelligence services in the Kyiv region. Thanks to pre-emptive action, the law enforcement averted the assassination of the head of a Ukrainian defence industry enterprise.

According to the currently available information, the attack was organised by russia’s federal security service (FSB). The plan was to kill the official by planting explosives under the driver’s seat of his car.

The SSU Counterintelligence and the National Police detected, seized and defused the bomb in time; it contained 1 kg of hexogen, equivalent to 2 kg of TNT.

A 63-year-old pensioner who had moved to the Kyiv region from Luhansk region has been identified as the one preparing the terrorist attack. The FSB recruited him in February this year through his son, who had left the temporarily occupied territory and is now living in russia.

After receiving instructions from his russian handlers, the agent purchased two mobile phones and a power bank from a local shop. One month before, he retrieved the remaining components for the improvised explosive device from a hiding place that he had prepared earlier. Within a few days, he assembled all the components and attached the finished improvised explosive device to the car.

He also placed a mobile phone concealed opposite the vehicle and connected to a power bank, which provided his handlers in russia with a live feed to trigger the explosion.

Immediately after planting the bomb, the perpetrator travelled to Poland by coach, intending to flee to russia from there.

Following the SSU’s request, he was detained in Poland while attempting to travel to russia via Belarus.

As part of the pre-trial investigation, SSU investigators and the Prosecutor’s Office have now submitted a request to the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Poland for the detainee's extradition to Ukraine. He has been notified in absentia that he is suspected of offences under Articles 15.2 and 258.1 of the CCU (completed attempt to commit a terrorist act).

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and the Kyiv Region, jointly with the SSU Counterintelligence and the National Police, under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.