Law enforcers detain Russian agents planning to derail train in Odesa region

Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police detained three accomplices of the federal security service who were preparing sabotage at Ukrzaliznytsia facilities in Odesa and Kharkiv regions.

According to the SBU, in Odesa region, the group burned down three Ukrzaliznytsia relay cabinets and was preparing a train derailment.

To commit the sabotage, the suspects planned to install a brake stopper on the track, which they had purchased online. SBU officers prevented the sabotage and detained two enemy accomplices as they were preparing to block the railroad tracks.

In Kharkiv region, a 17-year-old resident of Lozova district set fire to a railroad relay cabinet and was preparing for another arson attack.

All the detainees were served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (sabotage committed under martial law), and the actions of the Odesa detainees were additionally qualified as sabotage committed by an organized criminal group under martial law.

The offenders face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

According to the case file, the detainees committed the crimes because they were looking for quick money on Telegram channels.

Earlier, three residents of Odesa were also suspected of collaborating with Russian special services, who ordered arson attacks on military vehicles and equipment of Ukrzaliznytsia. According to the case file, a 29-year-old resident of Odesa got in touch with a representative of the aggressor state via one of the messengers. He was offered money for committing sabotage in the city. The man agreed and involved two of his friends in the case.

Recently, the Kyiv District Court of Odesa sentenced a young man who set fire to military-looking vehicles for money. It is noteworthy that the young man's father was a combatant.

Earlier in Odesa, law enforcement officers detained teenagers who had been recruited for sabotage by Russian special services. For example, in Odesa, police detained two teenagers, aged 13 and 16, who set two cars on fire. They were caught along with two friends, aged 16 and 18, while trying to set another car on fire. The boys now face up to 15 years in prison.

Кирило Бойко