Two schoolboys arrested in Russia for suspected arson of Mi-8 military helicopter

A court in the Russian city of Omsk has arrested two 16-year-old schoolboys suspected of setting fire to a military Mi-8 helicopter for a reward allegedly offered by Ukrainian handlers.

Source: Radio Liberty

Details: Radio Liberty reported that the Omsk court had detained the two teenagers, who are accused of arson at a local air base. 

According to reports from Russian anonymous Telegram channels, the boys, Roma and Anton, allegedly broke into the air base on the evening of 21 September, throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Mi-8 helicopter.

During their arrest, the students claimed they received a task via Telegram from Ukrainian handlers, who promised them US$20,000 for the arson but later disappeared and deleted their chat.

A similar incident occurred on 11 September in the city of Noyabrsk, where two schoolboys aged 13 and 14 set fire to a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to Utair airlines, also reportedly on the orders of handlers who promised them 5 million roubles [approximately US$53,700]. In both cases, the teenagers were detained and criminal cases have been initiated on charges of terrorism.

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