The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police, exposed five criminals who were acting on the instructions of Russian special services and trying to damage critical infrastructure in Kirovohrad and Vinnytsia regions.
The targets were the facilities of Ukrzaliznytsia and Ukrposhta, the SBU press service reports.
Two criminals from the city of Znamenka were detained: a former assistant driver of Ukrzaliznytsia and his partner. They committed arson attacks on a locomotive, a power company substation and relay cabinets.
Later, the defendants planned to derail a train and destroy the city’s private post office. Law enforcement officers detained them while they were preparing for the sabotage.
Three students of a local college aged 15-16 were exposed. The young men set fire to a regional branch of Ukrposhta and a relay cabinet located on an important railroad line.
According to the investigation, after completing these tasks, the Russians planned to involve the minors in sabotage in other regions of Ukraine.
The defendants face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.