The SSU and police detained an agent of the Russian Federation after a terrorist attack in the Zhytomyr region

The SSU and police detained an agent of the Russian Federation after a terrorist attack in the Zhytomyr region

The counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police detained an agent of the Russian Federation who carried out a terrorist attack in the Zhytomyr region on the evening of September 14.

This was reported by the SSU.

"It concerns the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) in one of the districts of Korostyshiv. As a result of the incident, a 34-year-old local resident was killed.

Law enforcement officers detained the suspect within 8 hours after the terrorist attack.

According to the case materials, the perpetrator was a 31-year-old drug-addicted resident of Zhytomyr, who was recruited by Russian special services through Telegram channels where he was looking for money for a ’dose.’

In exchange for the promise of ’quick earnings,’ the suspect agreed to prepare a terrorist attack. For the sake of secrecy, the agent first rented an apartment in the regional center and then, under the guise of household purchases, acquired components to manufacture an IED.

Following instructions from the Russian operatives, the perpetrator made the explosive, equipped it with a mobile phone for remote detonation, and disguised it as a fire extinguisher.

After that, the suspect placed the IED in a hiding spot, covered it with garbage, and sent the coordinates to his handler.

To enable the Russians to track the arrival of the victim at the planned attack site and activate the explosive, the agent installed a camera with remote access opposite the location.

During searches, a smartphone with evidence of his contacts with the Russian special service was seized from the detainee.

SBU investigators informed him of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (terrorist act resulting in the death of a person).

The offender is in custody. He faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Comprehensive measures were carried out by SBU employees in the Zhytomyr region together with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor’s office," the SBU statement noted.