Person involved in terrorist attack resulting in death of person will be tried in Zhytomyr region. PHOTOS

SBU investigators have completed a pre-trial investigation into a Russian agent who carried out a terrorist attack in the Zhytomyr region on behalf of the enemy.

This was reported on 19 December by the press service of the SSU Office in the Zhytomyr region, according to Censor.NET.

Details of the investigation

"Investigators from the Security Service have gathered evidence against an accomplice of the Russian special services who, on behalf of the enemy, organised an explosion in the Zhytomyr region on the evening of 14 September. This refers to the detonation of a homemade explosive device (HED) near a cemetery in Korostyshiv, which killed a 34-year-old man from Berdychiv. Fortunately, his wife was not injured," the statement said.

Counterintelligence officers of the special services, together with the National Police, detained the person involved in the commissioned terrorist act within 8 hours after the incident.

During the investigation, it was established that the attack was prepared by a 31-year-old drug addict from Korostyshiv with two convictions for drug and property crimes.

The suspect was looking for quick money on Telegram channels, where in early September he was approached by a representative of the enemy who offered him a "job."

In exchange for the promise of "big money," the suspect set about preparing a terrorist act, strictly following the instructions of his "curator."

"First, he rented an apartment in the regional centre to make a homemade explosive device at home according to the instructions sent by the enemy. He purchased the necessary ingredients and components in chain shopping centres, pawnshops and a children's store in Zhytomyr. The perpetrator camouflaged the manufactured explosive device as a fire extinguisher and equipped it with a mobile phone to initiate the explosion," the SBU said.

Following further instructions, on the afternoon of 14 September, the man transported the explosive device by taxi to Korostyshiv, placed it in a ravine near a cemetery and camouflaged it with rubbish. He set up a smartphone with remote access opposite the device and sent the coordinates to his "curator".

A few hours later, the enemy remotely activated the device with a phone call when the desired "targets" came within range.

Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, SSU investigators charged the perpetrator with three counts under the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

terrorist act by a group of persons acting in concert, resulting in the death of a person
illegal carrying and storage of an explosive device without the permission required by law,
illegal manufacture of an explosive device by a group of persons acting in collusion.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings has been completed.