FSB Recruit Tried to Blow Up Defense Industry Executive in Kyiv Region

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the National Police prevented a Russian intelligence services plot to carry out a terrorist attack targeting the head of a Ukrainian defense industry company in the Kyiv region.

The SSU reported this on its Telegram channel.

According to investigators, the attack was organized by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which planned to kill the official using an explosive device attached underneath the driver’s seat of his car.

In February 2026, Russian intelligence services recruited a 63-year-old man who had moved to the Kyiv region from the Luhansk region. He was recruited through his son, who had left the temporarily occupied territory and currently lives in Russia.

Following instructions from his Russian handlers, the man purchased mobile phones and a power bank. He later retrieved components of the explosive device from a pre-arranged storage.

The suspect assembled the explosive device and attached it underneath the official’s driver’s seat.

He also left a concealed mobile phone near the vehicle, connected to a power bank, which was intended to provide a live feed and remotely activate the explosive device.

SSU and National Police explosives experts detected and defused the device in time. It contained about 1 kilogram of RDX, equivalent to approximately 2 kilograms of TNT in explosive power.

After planting the explosives, the man traveled by bus to Poland. From there, he planned to reach Russia via Belarus.

The suspect was detained in Poland while attempting to travel to Russia. Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have already initiated extradition proceedings with Poland.

The suspect was notified in absentia that he was suspected of attempting to commit a terrorist act.

Russia continues to attempt to damage Ukraine’s defense industry. For example, recently in Slovakia, authorities prevented an arson attempt targeting a plant operated by a Ukrainian company that manufactures drones.