The SSU Military Counterintelligence Department, under the personal supervision of the SSU Head, Major General Oleksandr Poklad, foiled a series of terrorist attacks by the russian intelligence services in the Kharkiv region. Following a complex special operation, two FSB agents who were planning to assassinate Ukrainian military personnel were arrested.

The investigation established that both agents had been recruited remotely by the enemy via Telegram channels advertising ‘easy money’. Having agreed to cooperate with the aggressor, they initially carried out test tasks: they took photographs and videos of specific objects and set fire to a Defence Forces vehicle.

Subsequently, the rashists deployed agents in an attempt to kill Defence Forces troops during a fake charity party, which had in fact been organised by the russian intelligence services.

According to the case file, in order to lure Ukrainian military personnel to a ‘themed event’, these suspects rented a house on the outskirts of the city and posted invitations to the party on a number of local Telegram channels.

According to the enemy’s plan, during the event, the agents were to slip potent substances into the drinks, the consumption of which would prove fatal.

It has been established that several dozen people agreed to attend the party, the majority of whom are members of the Defence Forces.

At the same time, the suspects were instructed by their handler to construct a powerful bomb with a 10 kg explosive charge.

Officials from the SSU's Military Counterintelligence Department took pre-emptive action and detained one of the suspects whilst he was carrying an improvised explosive device (IED) in his backpack. Another female agent, a resident of the Kharkiv region, was detained in a rented house where she had been synthesising the components for the bomb.

During searches, components for explosive device and phones containing evidence of collaboration with the enemy, including instructions from a russian handler regarding other intelligence and sabotage missions were seized.

The detainees have now been served suspicion notices, in accordance with the offences committed, under the following articles of the CCU:

• Article 14.1, and 258.2 (terrorist act);
• Article 263.1 (unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition or explosive substances).

The suspects have been remanded in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment.

The operations are being carried out jointly with investigators from the Kharkiv Regional Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine, under the procedural supervision of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office and with the assistance of the National Police’s Department of Strategic Investigations.