Security forces foil terror plot in Zhytomyr planned by 16-year-old girl on Russian orders
The SBU said this in a statement seen by Ukrinform.
According to the security agency, proactive measures exposed a new Russian attempt to detonate an improvised explosive device in a residential neighborhood of the city.
The investigation found that Russian intelligence operatives tried to involve a 16-year-old girl from Berdychiv, who had been looking for easy money in Telegram channels, in carrying out the attack.
Case materials show that she was instructed by a handler from Russia to travel to Zhytomyr and stay for several days in a rented apartment.
While there, she was told to assemble an improvised explosive device following Russian instructions. Among other things, she was to reinforce it with metal nuts and fit it with a mobile phone for remote detonation.
She then received orders from the Russian operative to hide the bomb – disguised as a fire extinguisher – in a park and set up her phone camera facing the site.
Law enforcement officers detected and neutralized the device in time, preventing casualties and documenting the enemy's subversive activity.
An investigation is underway within criminal proceedings opened by SBU investigators under Part 1 of Article 14 and Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code (preparing for a terrorist attack) to bring all those involved to justice.
The SBU urged young people to report any attempts at hostile recruitment via the "Expose an FSB Agent" chatbot.
Photo: SBU
