Planned to cut off power to Kropyvnytskyi: SBU caught an FSB agent red-handed

This was reported by the SBU press office.

“The Security Service’s counter-intelligence unit thwarted a new attempt by the Russian Federation to carry out a large-scale sabotage operation in Kropyvnytskyi. As a result of pre-emptive action, an FSB agent who was preparing to blow up a key electrical substation has been detained,” the SBU stated.

It is noted that SBU officers caught the suspect red-handed as he was retrieving a homemade bomb from a hiding place at the entrance to the city during curfew.

According to the case file, the explosive device was equipped with 300 grams of plastic explosive and a mobile phone for remote detonation.

What was the plan for the sabotage?

The investigation established that the agent intended to transport the bomb by taxi to the site of the planned sabotage and plant it near the transformers of a key electrical substation to detonate it.

In this way, the Russian Federation planned to destroy a key power hub that supplies most of the city’s strategic and social facilities.

What is known about the suspect

According to the case file, the FSB’s mission was carried out by a local unemployed man recruited by the enemy. He came to the Russians’ attention whilst searching for “easy money” on Telegram channels.

Having agreed to the promise of “quick money”, the agent received from Russian intelligence officers the coordinates of a hideout containing a homemade explosive device and the location of the planned sabotage. During a search, explosives and a smartphone containing evidence of his work for the enemy were seized from the detainee.

The suspect is being held in custody without the right to bail and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.