The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have detained an enemy agent who was preparing a terrorist attack in one of the most crowded places in Zhytomyr – near the Alley of Glory to Heroes.

The enemy accomplice is a 16-year-old schoolboy from Zhytomyr region, who was lured by the russian intelligence service into criminal activity in exchange for money.

According to the investigation, the underage terrorist was supposed to leave an improvised explosive device disguised in a backpack on the Alley.

At that moment, the occupiers planned to remotely detonate the explosive and their agent. In this way, the russian service hoped to achieve two goals: to carry out a bloody terrorist attack with many victims and to eliminate their asset as an ‘unnecessary witness’.

The SSU Counterintelligence foiled the aggressor’s plan and detained the minor when he was approaching the site of the planned attack.

The schoolboy made the bomb himself according to instructions from his russian handler. To disguise the explosives, he put them in a saucepan, and to increase the destructive effect, stuffed the explosives with iron screws.

Then, instead of going to school, the youngster took a taxi to Zhytomyr to prepare the attack.

Throughout the journey to the central alley, the agent was in constant contact with the russian service.

After receiving the report on arrival at the destination, the occupiers were to activate the IED by calling the mobile phone that was connected to the explosives.

However, thanks to proactive law enforcement actions, the tragedy was prevented.

SSU investigators will serve the detainee a notice of suspicion under Articles 14.1, 258.2 of the CCU (preparation to commit a terrorist act).

The suspect faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

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