Ukrainian law enforcement agencies arrested a 19-year-old Kyiv student accused of planning to detonate an explosive device under a minibus transporting soldiers to the front lines. According to dnes.bg, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that the suspect acted for monetary compensation in coordination with a remote handler.
Investigators report that the teenager traveled to the city of Rivne on instructions from his handler. He retrieved a backpack from a designated location in the city outskirts containing a mobile phone, an external battery, and explosives. The suspect then allegedly placed the device underneath a vehicle belonging to the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Remote Detonation Prevented by Security Forces
To monitor the target and execute the attack, the student placed the phone and external battery—disguised as a juice carton—directly across from the vehicle. During the night, the remote coordinator attempted to trigger the explosives. SBU operatives intercepted the communications, neutralized the device before detonation, and apprehended the suspect at the scene.
A court ordered the student held in pre-trial detention without the option of bail. Authorities charged him with attempted terrorism. Under Ukrainian law, conviction for an attempted terrorist act carries a prison sentence of up to 12 years, with the potential for property confiscation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific charges does the suspect face?
The 19-year-old student faces formal charges for attempted terrorism under Ukrainian criminal statutes, stemming from the alleged plot to blow up a military vehicle.
What maximum sentence could the student receive?
If convicted of the attempted terrorist act, the suspect faces up to 12 years in prison, alongside possible property confiscation depending on the court’s final ruling.
How was the explosive device monitored?
Investigators state that the suspect rigged a mobile phone and an external battery, disguised inside a juice carton container, across from the target vehicle to watch and assist the remote coordinator.