A man in Odesa arrested for assisting Russian attacks and sabotaging railway equipment

Source: Ukraine’s Security Service

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on Tuesday that its operatives have detained a man in Odesa who allegedly coordinated Russian missile and drone strikes on the southern Ukrainian city and was involved in setting fire to railway relay cabinets. The suspect faces life imprisonment if convicted.

The 39-year-old man, recruited by Russian intelligence, was reportedly tasked with spying on the locations of Ukrainian military forces and directing Russian attacks aimed at Ukraine’s air defense positions in Odesa.

In addition to his role in coordinating attacks, he acted as a saboteur, attempting to set fire to signal cabinets of Ukrzaliznytsia, the state railway operator. He was apprehended in the act of arson.

The suspect had been approached by FSB operatives in Krasnodar, Russia, where he had traveled to visit his father and registered for military service to obtain Russian citizenship.

He returned to Odesa before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During a search of his home, authorities discovered two F-1 grenades and a mobile phone used for communication with the FSB.

The suspect is now facing several charges, including treason and sabotage.

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