Based on evidence collected by the Security Service of Ukraine, two FSB agents have been sentenced to 15 years in prison and confiscation of property. The SSU exposed them in April 2025 while they were preparing a terrorist attack in Zaporizhzhia.

The investigation revealed that the perpetrators intended to plant an improvised explosive device under a service vehicle belonging to the 12^th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The ruscists hoped that this would result in the deaths of the Ukrainian defenders fighting on the southern front line.

The SSU uncovered the plot at an early stage, apprehending both agents in the act of assembling the bomb.

The orders of russia’s federal security service were carried out by two local residents with previous convictions for robbery and drug trafficking.

One of them came to the FSB’s attention through his wife, who lives in the temporarily occupied city of Berdyansk and collaborates with the enemy.

Promised ‘easy money’, the repeat offender agreed to carry out a terrorist attack. He recruited an acquaintance, with whom he had previously served a prison sentence, to participate in the crime.

They purchased materials for the IED and then tracked down a vehicle belonging to Azov, planning to place the bomb under the hood of this car.

They were also supposed to install a hidden phone camera with remote access opposite the site of the planned attack for the russian intelligence.

The enemy intended to use the video device to monitor the arrival of Ukrainian soldiers at the car with the IED and detonate it remotely.

During a search, components for an improvised explosive device, as well as mobile phones containing evidence of preparations for the attack, were seized from the agents.

Based on the SSU’s investigation, the court found the accused guilty under three Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 111.2 (high treason, by a group, by prior conspiracy, under martial law).
• 28.2 and 263.1 (illegal manufacture and storage of explosive substances without the required legal authorisation, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 263-1.2 (illegal manufacture of explosive substances or explosive devices).

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