Foiled Terror Plot at the Port of Ust-Luga
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it prevented a planned terrorist attack at the port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region, targeting the gas carrier Arrhenius. The vessel had arrived from Belgium on May 20 and was scheduled to depart for the Turkish port of Samsun after unloading. The FSB discovered underwater explosive devices resembling naval magnetic mines, each weighing approximately 7 kg. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the explosives were manufactured in a NATO member state.
The FSB added that the mines could not have been planted within Russia’s territorial waters. In response, Russian authorities opened a criminal case on charges of attempted terrorism and illegal trafficking of explosive devices. The ship’s captain reported that the gas carrier had been anchored for about a day and a half before unloading in Antwerp due to a strike.
Roof Collapse in Yekaterinburg
Separately, in Yekaterinburg, part of the roof at the Ural College of Technology and Entrepreneurship collapsed. The collapse covered an area of 400 square meters, leading to the evacuation of 97 people from the building. Emergency services deployed 15 personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and five units of equipment to the scene. The incident was caused by a crack in the roofing, though no one was in the gymnasium at the time of the collapse.
The thwarted attack at Ust-Luga highlights heightened scrutiny by Russian security agencies over maritime safety amid a tense international climate. Meanwhile, the Yekaterinburg roof collapse underscores infrastructure vulnerabilities that could endanger public safety. These events collectively reflect broader concerns about security and infrastructure readiness in Russia, particularly in the face of potential external threats and domestic challenges.