The suspect allegedly built and detonated an explosive device on the tracks on orders from Ukraine
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a woman accused of carrying out a sabotage attack on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Zabaykalsky Region on orders from Ukrainian intelligence services, the agency has announced.
The suspect, a 51-year-old Russian citizen, allegedly constructed an improvised explosive device (IED) in August using commercially available components. According to the FSB, she planted the device on a section of railway track and detonated it, later recording the blast on her mobile phone and sending the footage to her handler as proof in exchange for payment.
Investigators said she has been charged for sabotage, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A court has ordered her to remain in custody pending trial. The FSB added that further charges of treason and illegal production of explosives are also possible, and that a further investigation is underway.
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In a recorded confession released by the FSB, the woman stated that she had been offered $8,000 to carry out the bombing. She described acquiring the necessary materials, assembling the device, transporting it by car, and placing it on the railway before detonating it with a connected battery.
The FSB reiterated its warning that Ukrainian special services are actively seeking potential recruits online through social media and messaging platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp to stage sabotage and terrorist attacks aimed at Russia.
On Saturday, two people were killed and one was seriously wounded after a bomb exploded during an inspection of railway tracks in Orel Region in western Russia. In May, two railway bridges were also blown up by Ukrainian intelligence operatives in Bryansk and Kursk Regions, resulting in the deaths of seven people. Over a hundred were seriously injured.