A 51-year-old Russian national has been arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for allegedly orchestrating a terrorist attack on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Zabaykalsky Region under the direction of Ukrainian intelligence operatives, according to official statements. The suspect is accused of constructing and detonating an improvised explosive device (IED) in August using commercially sourced materials, which she later documented and transmitted to her handlers as proof of completion, allegedly for financial gain.
According to investigators, the woman planted the device on a rail section before triggering it via a connected battery. She reportedly received $8,000 for the act, as revealed in a recorded confession obtained by the FSB. The agency warned that Ukrainian special forces are actively recruiting individuals online through platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp to conduct attacks targeting Russian infrastructure.
The suspect faces charges of sabotage, which could result in up to 20 years in prison, with additional allegations of treason and unauthorized explosive production under investigation. A court has ordered her pretrial detention. The FSB highlighted a pattern of similar attacks, citing recent incidents in Russia’s Orel Region, where two people died and one was critically injured following a railway bomb explosion. Earlier this year, Ukrainian agents allegedly destroyed two bridges in Bryansk and Kursk Regions, killing seven and injuring over 100.
The FSB reiterated its assertion that Ukraine is escalating efforts to destabilize Russia through covert operations, framing the suspect’s actions as part of a broader strategy to undermine national security. No further details about the woman’s motives or ties to Ukrainian authorities were disclosed in the statement.