Operational counterintelligence workers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained three agents recruited by Russian intelligence while they were preparing terrorist attacks targeting military units in the Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions, Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA.
Two agents were detained who were separately preparing to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in front of local draft boards, and another suspect is believed to have prepared explosives and placed them in caches.
The investigation found that the terrorists were supposed to plant explosive devices near military sites and later activate them remotely using a mobile phone phone.
The suspects were recruited by Russian intelligence officers through the "Telegram" app because they were looking for easy money.
One of the suspects was caught at the scene of the crime while planting an explosive device, and another was arrested while finishing setting up another such device.
In Dnipro, a 27-year-old local defector was detained near a potential target. A homemade explosive device equipped with a phone with a remote access function for Russian leaders was seized at the scene.
It was local residents who noticed the man acting suspiciously before reporting him to law enforcement.
A 32-year-old resident of Kryvyi Rih was detained in the Lviv region, who arrived in the city of Stryi to carry out two terrorist attacks, Ukrinform reports. The suspect was instructed to blow up a recruitment center and a vehicle belonging to the service.
A 30-year-old local resident was also detained, who is believed to have made a homemade explosive device for the attack.
Investigators are charging the two bombers with treason during martial law, conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, and illegal handling of explosives.
The investigation against the third suspect is ongoing.
The perpetrators are being held without bail, facing up to 12 years in prison if convicted by a court.