Law enforcement officials apprehended four young men who were preparing a terrorist act in the center of Mykolaiv on behalf of the Russian special services, which took place on February 14. The explosion resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and a woman who brought the explosives to the scene, while seven others were injured.
According to the press center of the Security Service of Ukraine, those detained were minors from the Poltava region, aged between 14 and 17, who were recruited by the occupiers through Telegram channels advertising "easy money."
It was noted that under the instructions from the Russians, the youths independently constructed an improvised explosive device, concealed it in a backpack, and handed the "package" to a 42-year-old woman from a neighboring village. In exchange for the promise of "quick earnings," the woman traveled to Mykolaiv to supposedly deliver a "bag of money" to a local resident.
"Unaware that she was carrying disguised explosives, she approached the parking area near a café where a group of Ukrainian soldiers were gathered. As soon as the woman got close to them, the Russian special services remotely activated the explosive device via a call to her mobile phone," the SBU reported.
According to the investigation, the enemy had preemptively prepared to eliminate their agent as an "unnecessary" witness to the terrorist act. Meanwhile, the minors involved, after preparing and delivering the explosives, "went into hiding" at their homes, awaiting their reward. It was there that law enforcement officials detained them. During searches, mobile phones containing evidence of contact with the FSB, as well as components for the production of explosive devices, were confiscated from them.
The four individuals have been informed of suspicion under part 2 of article 28, part 3 of article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (terrorist act committed by a group of individuals in collusion, resulting in loss of life). They are currently in custody. Despite their young age, they face life imprisonment.
On social media, people report that the deceased 42-year-old woman was a resident of the city of Horishni Plavni.
Terrorist Act in Mykolaiv on February 14 - Details
On February 14, an explosion occurred in the center of Mykolaiv, resulting in the deaths of three servicemen from the Mine Action Center - Vadym Eliseev, Elena Klyuchnikova, and Yevhen Syryk.
This incident took place on Pohranichna Street near a café, where the woman approached individuals in military uniforms. She was holding a bag, at the bottom of which was an explosive device. The explosion killed the woman instantly. Prior to the explosion, she had been shopping at a store and it is possible that she was unaware she was carrying explosives.