According to law enforcement, the teens carried out the attack at the direction of Russian special services.
Zhytomyr regional police specified that a 33-year-old resident of Kharkiv died in the explosion. A 31-year-old man from Odesa sustained multiple injuries and was hospitalized.
The SBU noted that a 17-year-old student from a local vocational school and another 17-year-old were recruited by Russian security services through Telegram channels where they sought easy money. After being recruited, an enemy agent provided them with instructions on making an improvised explosive device (IED). To avoid drawing attention, the minors purchased the explosive components separately from various shops and markets.
Investigators said the suspects included an assortment of steel nuts in the IED to maximize damage. The device was connected to a mobile phone, allowing their Russian handlers to trigger the explosions remotely.
After receiving coordinates from their Russian contact, the suspects placed the IED and installed a hidden camera to monitor the arrival of their targets before triggering the detonation.
“For remote observation, the girl secured a phone with an external battery to a [nearby] tree,” the statement said.
“That phone was under the control of Russian security services. When the two victims arrived at the location, the IED detonated.”
Charged with terrorism, under Ukrainian law, the suspects could face 10 to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment.