Sabotage, recruitment and attempted murder: a Russian curator and his accomplice from Kherson are suspected

The Security Service of Ukraine has served suspicion notices to the defendants in the case of sabotage and preparation of a contract killing, which law enforcement officers have been documenting for several months. The suspects are a Russian citizen and a native of Kherson, whom the investigation considers to be coordinators of a network that acted against Ukraine.

This is evidenced by the suspicion of the Prosecutor General's Office.

As follows from the materials of the proceedings, Nikita Glushkov, whom law enforcement officers associate with Russian special services, played the role of organizer and curator. Alina Kulkova, in turn, acted as an intermediary: it was through her that tasks were transferred, goals were agreed upon, and contact with the executor was made. Communication took place via messengers, including Telegram and WhatsApp, which minimized the risk of exposure and allowed for quick corrective actions.

The investigation found that one of the main activities of the group was attempts to damage relay cabins on railroad tracks and transformer substations. The perpetrator was offered a monetary reward for setting fire to such facilities and was required to record the result on video.

In several documented episodes, the perpetrator provided the coordinates and photos of the selected targets, after which he received detailed instructions on how to prepare and execute the arson. The scenario looked the same: the perpetrator would find the object, send the coordinates and photos, and upon approval, receive instructions on how to set the fire. A prerequisite was a video recording of the process as proof of the task.

At the same time, the actions themselves took place under the control of Ukrainian law enforcement and were actually simulated - mock-ups were used, and no real damage was done to the infrastructure. Despite this, the customers made payments each time - about UAH 28 thousand per episode.

According to the investigation, these actions qualify as completed attempts at sabotage committed under martial law and by prior conspiracy by a group of individuals.

Further developments indicate an escalation of intentions. Subsequently, according to law enforcement, Glushkov initiated the preparation of a contract killing of the commander of one of the volunteer formations in Kyiv. For this purpose, he offered a reward of USD 90 thousand, as well as the provision of weapons, transport and logistics for escape.

According to the case file, the perpetrator was even handed over firearms through a pre-arranged cache in the Kyiv region. The operation was accompanied by a complex coordination system: some people were responsible for the delivery of transportation, others for organizing a cover-up after the crime.

However, as in the case of sabotage, all actions were under the control of law enforcement. Several attempts to carry out the murder failed for various reasons, from the lack of a target to the appearance of unauthorized persons or law enforcement officers at the scene of the planned crime.

The final stage was an imitation of the murder, the video of which was handed over to the client. However, the client doubted the authenticity of the result and tried to verify the information through various channels, including medical institutions and police reports. After that, communication between the parties gradually ceased. The investigation is currently underway.

Also in February, a former special forces intelligence officer was exposed in Odesa for spying for Russia, photographing military checkpoints, NATO exercises, and passing on other intelligence. The court found him guilty of high treason.

Анна Бальчінос