Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have uncovered six individuals involved in organized arson attacks on infrastructure facilities owned by state institutions, including “Ukrzaliznytsia” and military vehicles
A notable aspect of this operation was the detention of the youngest suspect – only 13 years old, which highlights the level of youth involvement in criminal activities and the scale of the criminal network operating under the guidance of foreign intelligence services. Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police conducted a large-scale special operation across three regions of the country. As a result, six local residents aged between 13 and 27 were arrested; they were colluding with the enemy through intermediaries from the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. According to the SBU press office, all those detained were under targeted control by Russian special services, which recruited them via popular messaging apps to carry out their criminal plans. Official information states that the young individuals received tasks from Russiancurators, coordinated targets, and used flammable mixtures to destroy infrastructure objects. Among the suspects is a minor – only 13 years old – raising questions not only about their direct responsibility but also about the systematic recruitment of youth by the enemy for destructive purposes. In the initial stage of the operation, law enforcement identified two young residents of Samara in Dnipropetrovsk region, aged 17 and 18, as involved. They infiltrated railway infrastructure and set fire to several relay cabinets responsible for train movement control. It was planned that these individuals would subsequently perform additional tasks, including setting fire to service vehicles of the Ukrainian military. However, they were detained "in the act" before executing their criminal intentions. In Odesa region, law enforcement arrested three more individuals: two young men aged 17 and 18 from the regional center and a 27-year-old resident of Chornomorsk. They acted independently but in coordination according to instructions received from Russian curators and set fire to three "Ukrzaliznytsia" relay cabinets. Their actions resulted not only in the destruction of railway infrastructure but also in the burning of a Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicle undergoing maintenance at a regional base. This indicates a deliberate attempt to disrupt logistics and hinder the movement of Ukrainian troops. Additionally, in Chernihiv, operatives detained a 24-year-old welder from a local maintenance station. The man attempted to set fire to a Ukrainian military vehicle, carefully concealing his actions and preparing to stage an intrusion by "third parties" on the territory, with a flammable substance prepared for the crime. However, SBU officers thwarted this dangerous destructive act at an early stage by arresting the suspect during preparatory work. All those involved have been informed of suspicion under articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code — including charges related to terrorist acts, intentional damage to property on a large scale, and other crimes. Currently, all detainees are in custody, and the issue of bringing the 13-year-old suspect to responsibility is being resolved by prosecutors and the court. Furthermore, law enforcement emphasizes the systematic work aimed at uncovering agent networks and neutralizing clandestine groups operating for the enemy, to strengthen the security of Ukrainian infrastructure and protect citizens. The operation serves as another proof of the professionalism of Ukrainian special services in countering espionage activities designed to destabilize the country during wartime.