Ukrainian Security Service Nabs Turkish National in FSB-Linked Sabotage Plot

Turkish Citizen Apprehended in Chernivtsi

According to Главком: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has apprehended a 24-year-old Turkish national in the city of Chernivtsi. The individual is suspected of attempting to set fire to equipment at a key electrical substation. He has been formally charged under articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code related to an attempted act of sabotage.

Details of the Foiled Sabotage Plan

SBU counterintelligence operatives uncovered that the suspect planned to destroy equipment at a critical power substation using five liters of gasoline. He was allegedly promised a reward of $3,000 USD for carrying out the attack. The man arrived in Chernivtsi in early January and took up residence in a local hostel. While preparing for the act, he conducted reconnaissance around the substation, seeking an undetected entry point.

According to reports from Lesya Fedorenko, the individual purchased the gasoline at a local filling station. Late the following evening, he attempted to start the fire but was unable to complete the criminal act. SBU officers, who had been monitoring his actions for several days and documenting all preparatory steps, arrested him at the scene.

The suspect has been charged under Part 3 of Article 15 and Part 2 of Article 113 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. This pertains to an attempted act of sabotage committed under martial law, an offense punishable by up to life imprisonment with confiscation of property. The SBU's Chernivtsi Regional Directorate has officially released information on the arrest.

This incident highlights the persistent threats to Ukraine's critical infrastructure during the ongoing war. The involvement of a foreign national points to the international dimensions of such sabotage attempts, raising concerns about external actors targeting Ukrainian stability. The SBU's successful operation demonstrates its ongoing efforts to identify and prevent attacks that threaten national security and public safety.