The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in collaboration with the National Police, has neutralized a group of young individuals in Odesa who, at the behest of the russian FSB, carried out a series of arsons targeting military vehicles. The SBU reported this on Telegram on July 29.
Over two weeks, the suspects attempted to destroy more than 15 service SUVs. As a result of the special operation, all members of the enemy cell were apprehended almost simultaneously in different parts of the city.
The group consisted of six Odesa residents aged 18 to 24, who worked as couriers for a popular food delivery service. They came under the FSB's radar as active users of Telegram channels searching for easy money, where they posted their "resumes". A representative of the russian intelligence agency responded to one of these chats and offered money in exchange for destroying Ukrainian military vehicles.
The suspects were "managed" by a single FSB handler and primarily operated in pairs while committing the crimes. For example, one would set the fire while the other filmed it. Under the guise of courier delivery, the suspects used their own scooters to patrol the city, identifying parking locations for military vehicles. They then sent photos of potential targets to their russian handler for "approval". After receiving the "command" from the FSB, the young men would arrive at the parking spots of military vehicles at night, douse them with flammable liquids, and set them on fire. They then recorded the fires for "reporting" to the aggressor. The occupiers planned to use these videos for conducting informational-psychological special operations against Ukraine.
The SBU documented the subversive activities of the enemy accomplices and detained all of them "in hot pursuit". Homemade incendiary mixtures and mobile phones containing evidence of the crimes were seized from the detainees.
All six suspects have been charged under Part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations).
The suspects are in custody and face up to 8 years in prison. The special operation was conducted by SBU officers in the Odesa oblast together with the National Police, under the procedural supervision of the regional prosecutor's office.
