The SBU detained a Russian military intelligence agent group that was planning a series of terrorist attacks on May 9 in Kyiv construction hypermarkets and near a popular cafe.
“As a result of a multi-stage special operation in the capital, agents of the Russian GRU were detained who were installing explosive devices in construction hypermarkets of a well-known chain and near a cafe,” the statement said.
The homemade explosive devices were disguised in tea packages.
The SBU claims that, according to the Russian special service, the explosives were supposed to “detonate during the peak hours of attendance at hypermarkets in order to cause maximum damage to the civilian population.”
Another terrorist attack was to take place near a popular Kyiv cafe.
“Russian agents wanted to plant explosive devices in a car parked nearby,” the SBU said.
In this way, as explained by the Ukrainian intelligence service, the GRU wanted to “destabilize the situation in Ukraine, as well as to give a signal on the symbolic day of May 9 about the alleged presence of the Russian underground in Kyiv, which is waiting for the arrival of the ‘Russian world’.”
As a result of the interrogations of the detainees, the SBU found out that they were promised $5,000 for their “work”.
The suspects were reportedly detained while installing explosive devices in a third hypermarket. They face life imprisonment.
