The SSU jointly with the National Police has detained an FSB agent who operated in Kyiv, Dnipro and Odesa.

On the instructions of his russian handlers, he set fire to service vehicles of Ukraine’s Defence Forces. The enemy targeted military SUVs, pick-up trucks and vans.

To destroy the vehicles of Ukrainian defenders, the russian service remotely recruited a 32-year-old fitness trainer from Odesa, who was looking for quick money on the Internet.

In the three Ukrainian cities, the perpetrator tried to destroy 6 vehicles of the Defence Forces over several days.

The investigation documented how the individual set fire to a Multivan belonging to the AFU in Kyiv. To do this, he arrived from Odesa to the capital and rented an apartment for one day.

After identifying a potential target and getting approval from his russian handler, the asset purchased flammable liquid and matches.

Disguised under dark clothes and a hat, he approached the vehicle at night and set it on fire, filming this on his phone.

The FSB needed the video from the scene for information and psychological operations to illustrate the supposed ‘presence of a pro-russian underground’ in Kyiv.

The agent planned to commit arsons in a similar way in other large cities.

The SSU found the suspect’s hiding place in Odesa and detained him.

It was established that the man had been in direct contact with a serviceman of the main directorate of the general staff of the russian armed forces (‘the GRU’).

This handler gave him tasks and instructions on how to carry them out, including tradecraft and methods to commit arson.

During the searches of the suspect’s home, the SSU seized a mobile phone with evidence of his communication with the GRU.

The SSU has served the detainee a notice of suspicion under Article 114-1.1 of the CCU (obstruction of the lawful activity of the AFU and other military formations during a special period).

The suspect is in custody and faces up to 8 years in prison. His actions may be qualified additionally.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region jointly with the SSU Odesa Office and the National Police under the procedural supervision of Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.