As a result of a special operation conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a sabotage and reconnaissance group was arrested in Kharkiv that was working with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, SBU advisor Markian Lubkivskyi reported on Facebook, March 4.
According to Lubkivskyi, in August-September 2014, members of this group underwent special training in sabotage at the Russian security services military camp in Tambov, Russia, where they were taught the basics of subversion, military warfare, sniper shooting with various weapons, and the preparation and execution of terrorist acts in the Kharkiv Oblast.
“After completing the sabotage training, all the members of the group signed agreements of secret cooperation with Russian special services, selected aliases, and received cash payments of $300 each,” Lubkivskyi wrote.
During the raid, Ukrainian security services also seized TNT charges, detonators, fragmentation grenades, Russian army manuals on subversion and warfare tactics, insignia, emblems and government statutes for the so-called “Novorossiya, ” he added.
Security officers have determined the identities of all the participants in the sabotage group and, with the help of soldiers from the Alpha special operations unit, arrested four members of the group as well as the group’s 42-year-old organizer, who was responsible for recruiting participants and arranging for their special training in Russia.
Criminal charges against the five are being prepared.
