Russian agents planned to poison dozens of Ukrainian troops at ‘charity’ party – SBU
The SBU stated that its military counterintelligence unit had detained two FSB agents (Photo: Security Service of Ukraine / Telegram)
Ukraine’s SBU Security Service’s military counterintelligence unit detained two alleged FSB agents who were trying to kill dozens of Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv Oblast by organizing what they presented as a “charity” party, the agency reported on July 27.
The operation was personally overseen by SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad.
According to the investigation, both suspects were recruited remotely by Russian operatives through Telegram channels offering “easy money.”
The SBU said the pair first carried out test tasks after agreeing to cooperate with Russia, including taking photos and videos of selected sites and setting fire to a Defense Forces vehicle.
Later, according to the agency, Russian handlers brought them into a plot to kill Ukrainian soldiers during what was described as a “charity” party that had in fact been organized by Russian special services.
Investigators said the suspects rented a house outside the city and posted invitations to the event in a number of local Telegram channels in order to lure members of Ukraine’s Defense Forces to the gathering.
“According to the enemy’s plan, during the event the agents were to put powerful substances into drinks, the use of which leads to fatal consequences,” the SBU said. “It has been established that several dozen people agreed to attend the party, most of them representatives of the Defense Forces.”
At the same time, the suspects also received instructions from their handler to build a powerful bomb with a 10-kilogram explosive payload.
The SBU said its military counterintelligence officers intervened before the plot could be carried out and detained one of the suspects while he was carrying the improvised explosive device in his backpack.
The second suspect, a resident of Kharkiv Oblast, was detained at the rented house where she was allegedly synthesizing components for the bomb.
During searches, investigators seized components of the explosive device as well as mobile phones containing evidence of cooperation with Russia, including instructions from the Russian handler on other reconnaissance and sabotage tasks.
The detainees have been charged under the following articles of Ukraine’s Criminal Code:
- Part 1 of Article 14 and Part 2 of Article 258 — preparation of a terrorist act;
- Part 1 of Article 263 — illegal handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosives.
They have been placed in custody without bail and face life imprisonment, the SBU said.
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