SSU and National Police detain three enemy agents responsible for arson attacks across Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have exposed another three enemy agents carrying out contract arson attacks in the northern and western regions of Ukraine.
In Sumy, the SSU Counterintelligence detained a Kyiv resident who had set fire to several Defence Forces vehicles on the orders of russian intelligence services.
According to the investigation, these off-road vehicles had previously been used for combat missions on the front line.
The perpetrator travelled to Sumy to enrol at a local university but was soon recruited by ruscists via a Telegram channel offering ‘easy money’ to carry out arson attacks.
In the Khmelnytskyi region, an unemployed man was detained for tracking the parking locations of Ukrainian defenders’ vehicles on orders of russia’s federal security service.
Having provided the data to his handler, he received instructions to set fire to an off-road vehicle belonging to a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman and subsequently film the blaze.
In Ternopil, a car mechanic was arrested for setting fire to the administrative building of a local commercial bank branch. The fire damaged the entrance door and facade of the financial institution.
The investigation revealed that the arsonists used petrol and flammable mixtures prepared according to online instructions to carry out the crimes.
Tools used for the arsons and mobile phones, which the suspects had used to coordinate their actions with the russian intelligence, were seized during searches.
SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion of offences under the Articles of the CCU:
- 114-1.1 (obstructing the lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations, during a special period);
- 194.2 (wilful destruction or damage to property by arson).
The investigation is ongoing. The suspects face up to 10 years in prison.
The operations were carried out by the SSU Office in Sumy, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi regions jointly with the National Police, under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutors’ Offices.
