MOSCOW, October 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained two men from the South Caucasus who, acting on orders from the Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU), were preparing an attack using FPV drones against one of the key components of Moscow’s air defense system and an electric power facility, the FSB press office reported.
TASS has compiled the key information known at this time.
Thwarting of terrorist attack
- The FSB thwarted the sabotage and terrorist activities of two men from the South Caucasus, born in 1991 and 1998, the press office reported.
- According to the Federal Security Service, the men were going to prepare attack drones obtained from hidden stashes, transport them to the Moscow Region for launch, and activate them before takeoff.
- It was specified that the drones were to be controlled remotely from Ukrainian territory.
- While preparing to carry out a terrorist attack on an electric power facility and one of the key components of Moscow’s air defense system, the suspects were detained by FSB officers, the press office said.
- The FSB released a video showing the FPV drones that the two detainees, natives of the South Caucasus, were using, on orders from the SBU, to prepare an attack on one of the key components of Moscow’s air defense system and an electric power facility.
- A video provided by the FSB press office shows the suspects assembling the drones and getting them ready for use according to instructions from their handler.
- The video shows two drones, both disassembled and assembled, as well as the communication devices used by the agents and instructions for assembling the drones.
Recruitment
- According to the FSB, one of the detainees was recruited by an SBU officer. Acting on his orders and in exchange for a promised monetary reward, the detainee traveled to Russia to plan a terrorist attack.
- To this end, he enlisted the help of a close acquaintance. Together, they retrieved FPV drones and components for homemade explosive devices from hiding places in the Smolensk and Kaluga Regions.
- The FSB had prior intelligence indicating that individuals from the South Caucasus were preparing an FPV drone attack on air defense and energy facilities in Moscow on behalf of the SBU. These individuals were agents of the Ukrainian special services, just like their handler, an FSB officer reported.
- The operation involving the handlers is ongoing, he noted.
Investigation
- A criminal case has been initiated against the detainees under Article 205.4 of the Russian Criminal Code (Participation in a Terrorist Organization).
- The court remanded them into custody.
- The Federal Security Service is conducting the necessary investigative and operational measures to establish all the circumstances of the suspects’ illegal activities and their possible connections, the press office noted.