Hundreds of documented cases • 43-year-old would install explosive charge for 22,000
Russia is recruiting Ukrainian citizens via Telegram channels to carry out sabotage in Ukraine. In 2024, 179 suspects have been arrested.
– It is about arson of military vehicles, railway infrastructure and state-owned companies. The task of the criminal police is to quickly identify and bring the perpetrators to justice in order to prevent further crimes, said Andrii Niebytov, deputy head of the National Police of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Pravda
Installed Explosive Charge – Linked to F1 Grenade
One of those arrested is a 43-year-old man living in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
The investigation reveals that the man received offers for specific assignments via Telegram – for payment.
The first assignment he was given was to set fire to a building by the railroad. For that he received just over 1,000 kroner and a new task: to install an explosive charge in a rented apartment. Which was promised a payment of 22,000 kroner.
To complete the task, the man rented an apartment in Kyiv for four days. There he manufactured and installed an explosive charge. The charge consisted of a tripwire attached to an F1 grenade, which was designed to detonate on activation. The explosion was to be filmed with cameras installed in the apartment.
Later, an unidentified woman called the police and alleged that her boyfriend had assaulted her. When two police officers arrived at the scene, the woman told them over the phone that the door to the apartment was open and that they could enter. At the time, no one was in the apartment.
Suspected of terrorist acts
When the police arrived and opened the door, the grenade went off. Despite the explosion, they managed to run out and escape serious injury.
The 43-year-old man, who had planted the explosive charge and the cameras, was tracked down and arrested.
The man, who lives in Kiev and has previously been convicted several times, is now suspected of a terrorist act. The court decided to detain the man without the possibility of release on bail.