Ukraine arrests Russian spy cell preparing drone bomb attacks in Odesa
Ukrainian security service detains Russian agent group behind drone bomb plot in Odesa (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) detained an agent group of Russian military intelligence that was preparing bomb drones for attacks inside the Ukrainian city of Odesa, the SBU press service reported.
As reported, counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine uncovered two agents of Russia's military intelligence agency in Odesa. Acting on enemy instructions, the suspects were preparing attacks on local military personnel using so-called drops from a civilian quadcopter.
The SBU acted preemptively and detained the agents on the eve of the planned drone launch, when they already had a combat payload ready for dropping and a target approved by a Russian handler — one of the locations of a local unit of the Defense Forces.
The investigation established that one of the suspects was a 49-year-old local entrepreneur recruited by Russian forces through a Telegram channel that advertised easy money.
According to case materials, he first received a quadcopter from Russians and then retrieved 2 kg of plastic explosive and components for an improvised explosive device from a cache, which he used to equip the drone.
He then involved his 47-year-old acquaintance, who helped him reconnoiter locations with the highest concentration of Ukrainian troops. The identified locations were marked on Google Maps and reported to the handler in Russia.
After the target was approved by a Russian intelligence officer, they began preparing the aerial strike. At this stage, they were detained by SBU counterintelligence officers.
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
photo: Ukraine's Security Service
During searches, officers seized a quadcopter with explosives, as well as a Kalashnikov rifle, two Makarov pistols with ammunition, an F-1 combat grenade, and other weapons.
SBU investigators notified the agents of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law);
- Part 5 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 111 (aiding and abetting high treason committed under martial law).
The suspects are currently being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The investigation is ongoing to establish all circumstances of the crime, including the channels used to obtain firearms and ammunition.
Detention of Russian agents
Recently, the Security Service of Ukraine detained two Russian agents in Kherson who were preparing to blow up police officers and then flee to Russia.
In addition, an agent of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) who adjusted missile strikes on facilities of a military institute where he had studied was sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Another female agent of Russia's FSB was sentenced to the same term. She collected intelligence directly in the frontline zone.
Moreover, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police, acting hot on the trail, detained a Russian agent who, on January 4, carried out the bombing of a serviceman's car. The terrorist attack occurred in one of Kyiv's districts.
