SBU destroys agent network preparing murder of Odesa activist

The Security Service of Ukraine announced the neutralization of a Russian military intelligence agent group that was preparing the murder of Odesa activist Serhiy Sternenko and the elimination of a killer who resisted arrest with weapons.

Also, according to the SBU press service, more than 10 other members of the cell were taken into custody.

According to the investigation, the defendants were preparing the murders of well-known people in different regions of our country, including, in addition to Serhiy Sternenko, Russian Ilya Bogdanov, who has been fighting for Ukraine since 2014.

In order to carry out the murders, the perpetrators tracked the addresses and routes of movement of military and public figures, and then sent the collected data to the group leader (resident). This was a forensic expert from Poltava recruited by Russia, who summarized the intelligence and reported to the Russian special service.

The occupants then directly passed the data of potential victims to the liquidation agent, including the addresses of residence and routes of the targets. According to the case file, the killer is a native of the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk region. There he received combat training on the basis of the Russian army and was later transferred to the territory controlled by Ukraine.

It has been established that he was to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and plant them under cars or near the homes of his victims. In the event of a failed detonation, the killer was instructed by his Russian supervisor to shoot the victims at point blank range.

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PHOTO: SBU

During the searches, the SBU seized firearms, ammunition, voice recorders, computer equipment and video surveillance cameras with evidence of work for Russian special services.

The success of the operation was largely achieved due to the infiltration of the enemy and the active work of the SBU CI in Poltava region, a set of operational and combat measures in the temporarily occupied territory. The SBU sources were brought to the government-controlled territory and are safe.

SBU investigators have served the detainees suspicion notices of:

• High treason committed by a group of persons under martial law by prior conspiracy;
• Collaboration activities committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons;
• Unauthorized dissemination of information about the deployment, movement or deployment of the Armed Forces or other military formations established in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, committed under martial law;
• Preparation for a terrorist act committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons;
• Illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives.

The offenders are in custody without the right to be released on bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Кирило Бойко