The SSU Counterintelligence and the National Police have thwarted another terrorist attack in Zhytomyr. As a result of pre-emptive actions, a new attempt by ruscists to detonate an improvised bomb in a residential neighbourhood was averted.

According to the investigation, the russian intelligence services tried to recruit a 16-year-old schoolgirl from Berdychiv who was looking for easy money on Telegram.

The teenager received an ‘offer’ from a russian handler to come to Zhytomyr and stay there for several days in a rented apartment.

There, she was to assemble an improvised explosive device following the occupiers’ instructions. Among other things, she had to reinforce it with metal nuts and equip it with a mobile phone for remote activation.

The handler from the russian service further ordered to hide the bomb disguised as a fire extinguisher in a park and install a telephone camera opposite this location.

The Security Service and the National Police thwarted the plot – the IED was located and defused, preventing casualties, while russia’s sabotage operation was documented.

The investigation was opened under Articles 14.1 and 258.2 (preparation for a terrorist act) and is underway to bring to justice all those involved in the crime.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Zhytomyr region jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.

The Security Service of Ukraine continues to urge young people to report any attempts of enemy recruitment to the special chatbot Burn the FSB-man: t.me/spaly_fsb_bot.