SSU and police detain Russian agent who carried out terrorist attack in Bucha

The counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine detained a Russian agent within a few hours who carried out a double terrorist attack in Bucha, Kyiv region, on the morning of March 23.

According to Ukrinform, the SSU reported this.

According to the case file, at 5:35 a.m., the 112 emergency hotline received a report of an explosion on one of the city’s streets.

After emergency services arrived at the scene, another explosion occurred.

SSU and National Police officers were hot on the trail of the perpetrator. He turned out to be a 21-year-old resident. According to preliminary information, he was recruited by Russian special services online.

“He received instructions from the Russians on how to manufacture two improvised explosive devices (IEDs). To enable remote detonation, the agent equipped each bomb with a mobile phone,” the SSU reported.

The suspect then planted the explosives at the site of the planned attack: One was hidden under a bench near the entrance to a residential building, and the other near a trash container.

Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported on Telegram that a pre-trial investigation has been launched into the terrorist attack under Part 2 of Article 258 (terrorist act) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

“The events in Bucha are not isolated incidents. In recent months, similar terrorist attacks and attempts to carry them out have been recorded in Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and Odesa. The common hallmarks of these crimes include homemade explosive devices, remote detonation, coordination via messaging apps, and the recruitment of perpetrators,” Kravchenko emphasized.

Prosecutors believe this is part of a systematic subversive campaign by Russian intelligence agencies aimed at attacking law enforcement, the military, and civilian security within the country.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that neither the perpetrators, nor the organizers, nor those who ordered the attacks escape accountability,” Kravchenko emphasized.

According to the National Police, after receiving information about the explosion in Bucha, law enforcement officers acted in accordance with the protocol for responding to terrorist threats: The area was cordoned off, security was established at the scene, and residents were informed of the potential danger of a secondary explosion.

While initial measures were underway at the scene, another explosion occurred.

“Despite this, specialized services continued their work, maintained control of the situation, and took all necessary measures to prevent serious consequences among the population. Two law enforcement officers were injured as a result of the incident. Their lives are not in danger,” the police noted.

Within a few hours, law enforcement officers had apprehended the 21-year-old suspect.

“According to him, he met the unknown man through a computer game. After some time, the new acquaintance began blackmailing the young man, claiming he knew where his mother was and was allegedly monitoring her via a drone, so that she would remain alive, he had to plant explosives,” the police said.

As reported by Ukrinform, explosions occurred in Bucha, Kyiv region, on the morning of March 23, injuring two law enforcement officers.