The suspects were recruited online and given a toxic substance which they planted on their target’s car, the agency has said
Two teenagers have been detained in Novosibirsk, central Russia for attempting to poison a Russian military officer on orders from Ukrainian special services, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported.
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said the minors were recruited online through a site offering quick money and were later coordinated remotely from Ukraine. They received instructions via Telegram, the FSB said, as confirmed by data found on their seized devices.
The teens were later given three containers of toxic chemicals meant to cause acute heart failure and possibly death, which they applied to the door handle and side mirror of the officer’s car. The FSB did not disclose the names of the substances.
The joint operation by the FSB and Russia’s Investigative Committee prevented the assassination attempt, and the officer was unharmed. A criminal case has been opened for attempted murder committed by a group.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Kiev has repeatedly targeted Russian military personnel and public figures, often using sabotage. The FSB regularly reports that it has thwarted these types of plots and has warned citizens to stay alert, noting that Ukrainian intelligence recruits through websites, social media, and messaging platforms.
Earlier, the FSB reported the arrest of agents tied to Ukraine’s Security Service and Main Intelligence Directorate, which allegedly planned to kill workers at a defense plant in Yaroslavl using toxic chemicals placed in vehicle air ducts. Other reported plots included poisoning food and drinks at an air defense pilot celebration in Armavir and contaminating humanitarian food supplies intended for Russian troops. The suspects in all three plots were charged with preparing acts of terrorism and committing treason.
