Pensioner in Bila Tserkva Throws Grenade at Military Enlistment Office: Suspect Allegedly Influenced by Russia

Attacks in Bila Tserkva and Chernivtsi Region

According to Главком: On April 30 at 5:55 PM, a 68-year-old local resident tossed an RGD-5 grenade onto the grounds of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC) in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Region. The explosion occurred near the building, but no casualties or structural damage were reported. Authorities apprehended the suspect at the scene. During a search, they discovered two additional F-1 combat grenades in his possession, which are now undergoing forensic analysis.

According to the prosecutor's office, the man may have been acting under the influence of Russian intelligence services. Unidentified individuals allegedly used psychological coercion to convince him to test the center's security. The suspect retrieved the explosives from a hidden cache located in the Bila Tserkva district. Prosecutors, alongside investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), are now working to determine all circumstances of the crime, trace the origin of the grenades, and assess whether hostile intelligence agents were involved in planning the attack.

Second Incident in Chernivtsi Region

Notably, another attack occurred on April 20 in the Chernivtsi region, where a 29-year-old man assaulted military personnel from a recruitment center. During transport to a mobilization facility, the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed two servicemen-aged 33 and 51-multiple times in the neck. Both cases remain under active investigation by law enforcement.

“The suspect was detained at the scene. He was identified as a local resident. There were no injuries. A forensic team, canine unit, bomb disposal experts from the Kyiv region police, patrol officers, and SBU personnel are currently working at the site,” stated the Kyiv region police.

These incidents highlight growing security threats in Ukraine, particularly targeting military centers and mobilization processes. Authorities are emphasizing the potential for external interference that may drive individual actions. The situation underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures at government facilities and thorough investigations into possible links with hostile forces.

These alarming events in Bila Tserkva come amid a troubling pattern of violence targeting military establishments across Ukraine. For instance, another recent incident involved a grenade explosion in Lviv, as well as attacks in Zaporizhzhia and Rivne, raising concerns about the security of recruitment centers nationwide. To understand the broader implications of these incidents, read more about the recent violent occurrences in Ukraine.