The SSU detained the offender who, with the assistance from Russian special services, sent a false bomb alert to the Mining Vocational College of Kryvyi Rih National University. The detainee faces up to 6 years in prison.

The perpetrator is a student at a local college, who ordered the bomb threat from the administrator of a telegram chat run by Russian special services. Such chat rooms, which provide ‘services’ of sending bomb alerts, are used by the aggressor state as a tool to spread panic in Ukraine.

The anonymous letter was emailed on January 20 to the SSU hotline and to the college. The author introduced himself as a ‘Russian terrorist’ and demanded a ransom of UAH 250,000 (USD 8,800) ‘for the terrorist attack not to happen’.

The law enforcement immediately conducted necessary inspections and did not find any explosives in the college.

Professional investigative measures of the SSU led to identification of the perpetrator and his detention. According to him, he wanted the college to switch to distance learning.

Computer equipment and a mobile phone with evidence of illegal activity, including correspondence with the Telegram chat administrator, were seized from the suspect.

Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 259.1 (knowingly false information about a threat to public safety, destruction or damage to property) of the CCU.

The SSU carried out the operation jointly with the National Police under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.