Ukrainian teens arrested for spying, plotting arson for Russian agents

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), in cooperation with the National Police, detained two young men in Lviv suspected of collaborating with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Their task was to set fire to cars belonging to Ukrainian soldiers.

In Lviv, thanks to the practical cooperation of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police, two young residents were detained. On the orders of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), they planned to destabilize the socio-political situation in western Ukraine.

It all started when 17—and 18-year-old residents of Lviv were looking for a way to make quick money on Russian Telegram channels. On one of these channels, an FSB representative proposed cooperation in exchange for payment. The young men agreed to the proposal, not realizing the seriousness of their actions and the potential dangers.

The younger teenager's first task was to locate cars belonging to Ukrainian soldiers. Once he did, he photographed them and sent the pictures to his employers. After receiving the photos, the Russian intelligence service gave the go-ahead to destroy selected targets.

The first target was a car belonging to a soldier from the armed brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which was set on fire using a bottle of kerosene and a fire starter. This was a "test" task, after which the young man was to engage more people in similar acts of sabotage throughout the city.

The 17-year-old joined the group to help with the subsequent arsons. During their following actions, the perpetrators were to record the burning vehicles to provide evidence of task completion to their employers. The Russian agents planned to use these materials to create propaganda suggesting the existence of an anti-Ukrainian underground in Lviv.

Both men were detained while attempting to set another car belonging to a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on fire. They were found in possession of mobile phones used to communicate with Russian agents and materials for arson.

Both detainees were charged under Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, pertaining to obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. They are currently in custody and face up to 8 years in prison.

The SBU conducted Operational activities in the Lviv region under the supervision of the regional prosecutor's office. An investigation is ongoing to fully clarify the circumstances of the case and identify other potential collaborators of the Russian intelligence services.