The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has successfully thwarted a terrorist attack in the heart of Kyiv, apprehending two Russian agents who were targeting a Ukrainian military officer. According to the official SBU report, the suspects planned to detonate an explosive device attached to the victim’s vehicle near Maidan Nezalezhnosti. The plot was uncovered when SBU officers detected a GPS tracker installed on the military officer’s car, allowing them to intercept the attack before the bomb could be planted.
The two women operated independently, having been recruited by Russian intelligence via acquaintances in the Russian Federation. One suspect, a resident of the Sumy region, manufactured a homemade explosive device following video tutorials provided by her handlers. She went to great lengths to avoid detection, disguising herself as an elderly woman while transporting the bomb to a pre-arranged hiding spot in a cemetery. The second operative, a former business owner from Sevastopol currently struggling with debts, was tasked with monitoring the soldier’s movements and planting the device.
During the subsequent police raids, authorities found approximately 6 kg of explosive material and various disguises, including wigs, intended for the mission. Both women have been charged with high treason under martial law, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment with asset forfeiture.
This incident highlights the ongoing efforts by Russian intelligence services to orchestrate acts of sabotage and terror within Ukraine’s capital. By recruiting desperate individuals or those easily manipulated by ideology or financial incentives, the Kremlin attempts to create an atmosphere of instability. However, the vigilance of the SBU continues to serve as a critical defense, preventing successful strikes against military personnel and civilian infrastructure. The swift neutralization of this network underscores the intensity of the war happening in the intelligence and security shadows, far beyond the physical front lines.