The Security Service of Ukraine has successfully thwarted another attempt at a terrorist act orchestrated by Russian intelligence in Odesa.

As a result of the operation, a Russian agent was apprehended who was tasked with carrying out an attack on a Ukrainian military officer.

Investigations revealed that the perpetrator was a 31-year-old resident of Odesa, recruited through social media platforms promising «easy money».

He was initially given a «test» assignment to set a military vehicle on fire. Upon completing this task, he received further instructions on organizing the assassination attempt.

Specifically, he was supposed to retrieve a homemade explosive device (HED) from a pre-prepared stash and plant it at the location of the military personnel.

SBU operatives preemptively exposed the enemy's intentions and meticulously documented the criminal actions of the offender.

According to the investigation, the agent's task involved placing explosives with shrapnel elements in a children's playground in a residential area of Odesa. The Russian operatives planned to remotely activate the HED using a mobile phone.

SBU operatives caught the perpetrator «in the act» immediately after he planted the explosive device at the intended attack site.

The detainee has been formally charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

•  Part 2 of Article 15, Part 2 of Article 258 (completed attempt to commit a terrorist act by prior agreement of a group of persons);
•  Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 194 (intentional destruction of property by arson by prior agreement of a group of persons);
•  Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 114-1 (obstruction of lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a special period, committed by prior agreement of a group of persons).

He has been remanded in custody without the right to bail.

The comprehensive measures were conducted by SBU officers in the Odesa region under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.