Former police officer was preparing explosions at Odesa railway

The Counterintelligence Unit of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) foiled a series of sabotage attempts on railway infrastructure facilities in the south of Ukraine. An agent of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) [formerly the Main Intelligence Directorate - ed.] was detained in Odesa Oblast. 

Source: The Security Service of Ukraine; the Prosecutor’s Office in Odesa Oblast

Details: According to the investigation, the former police officer has been cooperating with representatives of the Russian special services since April 2022. He collected and transmitted data on the deployment and movement routes of military equipment of Ukraine’s Armed Forces units, the situation in the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk, and railway traffic.

To carry out the task assigned by the Russians, the perpetrator installed two remote camera traps near the railway track in the suburbs of Odesa. These special devices enabled him to track the movement of rolling stock in real time and receive relevant photos via a mobile application.

For the purpose of conspiracy, the Russian agent constantly changed his appearance and channels of communication with his Russian "overseer", stated SSU. He also used documents issued to fake persons, in particular, a passport of a citizen of Ukraine.

The man was detained while performing another task assigned by the Russians near the railway tracks.

The SSU officers discovered a 200 g TNT block and another camera trap during the detention of the saboteur.

In addition, in the course of further investigative actions, the law enforcement officers seized 11 TNT blocks and a TM-62 mine with detonators from the hiding place previously prepared by the perpetrator.

So far, the detainee was notified that he was under suspicion of treason and illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives.

The additional qualification of his criminal actions under Article 113 (sabotage) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is being decided.

The choosing of a pretrial restraint for the suspect is also being decided.

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