The Security Service’s Counterintelligence Department has prevented yet another terrorist attack in Khmelnytskyi. As a result of pre-emptive operations, an enemy agent – a minor – has been detained whilst preparing to carry out an attack on a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The individual was to manufacture an improvised explosive device and then place it in a cache for another agent – the direct perpetrator of the attack.

The SSU detained the enemy accomplice at the city bus station as he was attempting to flee the regional centre after placing the explosive in the hiding place.

According to the investigation, the attack was prepared by a 16-year-old resident of Chernivtsi, who had been recruited by russia. He came to the attention of russian operatives whilst searching for ‘easy money’ on Telegram.

Following his recruitment, the handlers sent the agent to Khmelnytskyi. Upon arriving in the city, he purchased components to manufacture an improvised explosive device following instructions from his handler.

The minor then received the coordinates of a cache, from which he was to retrieve TNT with an electric detonator to complete the assembly of the bomb.

He ‘reinforced’ the IED with metal nuts and stashed it in the hiding place. The agent mounted a phone camera on a tree nearby with remote access for the russian service, so that they could monitor the situation around the cache.

After completing the task, he called a taxi and went to the local coach station to return to Bukovyna on the first available service.

At the scene of the suspect’s arrest, a smartphone containing evidence of his collaboration with the enemy was seized.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of suspicion under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law).

The suspect is in custody without bail and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in the Khmelnytskyi region under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.