Russian agents detained in Zhytomyr who detonated an explosive device near the district police department

27 November, 2024 Detention of suspects in work for the Russian special services. November 2024. Photo: SSU

The Security Service and the National Police detained five Russian agents who committed a terrorist attack near the Zhytomyr district police department on the evening of November 20 this year. One law enforcement officer on duty was injured in the explosion, the SSU said. The perpetrators were a previously convicted Kharkiv resident and four Zhytomyr residents.

They were imposed with pre-trial restraints in the form of detention. According to the investigation, the suspects acted on the order of Russian special services, which recruited them via Telegram and promised a monetary reward. To commit the attack, the suspects used a mobile phone to remotely detonate an improvised explosive device, which they stuffed with nails and disguised in a thermos.

Detention of a suspect of working for the Russian special services.

November 2024. Photo credits: SSU

At the same time, the Russian agents installed hidden video cameras at the scene, which recorded the explosion in real-time.

A disguised explosive device and its remains. Zhytomyr, November 2024.

Photo credits: SSU

It is stated that all five suspects, who acted separately from each other, were detained in hot pursuit due to a special operation in the regional center. Among them is a 46-year-old Kharkiv resident who has twice served a sentence for robbery and burglary. "According to the instructions of the Russian curators, the repeat offender bought components for explosives, which he then hid in a pre-arranged cache.

Further hostile tasks were performed by Zhytomyr residents aged 15, 16, 18 and 20. Two of them took these components from the cache and made an explosive device in a rented apartment according to the schemes provided to them," the SSU reported. Two other accomplices installed video cameras near a government agency, planted explosives there, and detonated them.

During the searches, SSU officers seized components of an explosive device, SIM cards, and mobile phones with evidence of the crime. The SSU investigators served them a notice of suspicion under Part 2 Art.

258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (terrorist act committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons).

The criminals are in custody.

They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.