Bombmaker working for Kiev busted in Russia – FSB

A man who produced homemade bombs for Ukrainian intelligence assets has been arrested in Russia’s Kaluga Region, the Federal Service Security (FSB) reported on Monday.

The suspect, a Russian national in his early 50s, was recruited by Ukrainian special services in October 2023, according to an FSB statement. He produced several improvised explosive devices (IED) at a workshop at his country house, which he then hid at secret locations for other people to pick up and use, the FSB claimed.

Overall, seven Russian nationals have reportedly been taken into custody as part of the same investigation. The IED supplier was involved in bomb plots that planned to target a police precinct, a military officers’ club, the offices of two energy companies, and a gas distribution station, the FSB stated. All of the planned attacks, which were due to take place in Russia’s Belgorod, Bryansk and Tula regions, were thwarted, according to the agency.

The FSB said it had raided the alleged bombmaker’s workshop and found an assembled IED, components for producing explosives, munitions and some firearms, including historic pieces that were in use during World War II.

In a video released with the statement, the suspect says he was caught while trying to plant one of his bombs in person, as ordered by his Ukrainian handler. The suspect said he was paid for facilitating Kiev’s sabotage operations. Several other suspects made confessions to alleged acts of attempted terrorism in the same clip.

The FSB stops plots linked to the Ukrainian intelligence services on a regular basis, according to updates it makes to the public. Last week, it reported busting two would-be arsonists hired by Kiev for acts of sabotage.