In Kharkiv, a university lab technician was detained on suspicion of preparing an explosion at government institutions

In Kharkiv, a university lab technician was detained on suspicion of preparing an explosion at government institutions

The SSU prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Kharkiv, which a local agent was supposed to carry out on the orders of the Russian FSB. The suspect is a laboratory assistant at one of Kharkiv’s universities.

The 48-year-old man was recruited by the Russians through a Telegram channel, reported the SSU. He was supposed to blow up government institutions.

"To commit the crimes, the suspect made three homemade explosive devices (EDs), which he then placed in caches for the executors of the planned terrorist attacks. The investigation found that the preparation of the explosives was carried out by a local FSB agent - a 48-year-old laboratory assistant at one of Kharkiv’s universities. The hostile intelligence agency recruited him through Telegram channels. Under the instruction of his handler, the agent made EDs for remote detonation, ’enhancing’ them with nuts, screws, and nails," reported the SSU.

To cover his tracks, the perpetrator prepared the explosive devices not at his own place but in a neighbor’s apartment, while the owners, who had left him the keys, were out of town.

"Two ready-made EDs, equipped with phones for remote activation, were placed in caches, the coordinates of which were received from the handler. To avoid suspicion, the perpetrator disguised the EDs as various household items, including sports balls. SSU officers timely exposed the hostile agent, documented his crimes, and detained him ’red-handed’ while he was setting up a cache for the third explosive near an apartment building. During searches, components for new EDs and a phone used to contact the Russian intelligence agency were seized from the detainee," added the SSU.

Photo: SSU

The man was planning to blow up regional government institutions on the orders of the enemy

Photo: SSU

Evidence

The man has been charged under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 1, Article 14, Part 2, Article 258 (preparation for a terrorist act committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy)
• Part 1, Article 263 (illegal handling of explosive substances).

He is currently in custody. He faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.