SBU detains leader of 'Kharkiv partisans' for plotting terrorist attack in Kharkiv for May 9-10

The counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine has put an end to unlawful activities of one of the leaders of the "Kharkiv partisans" terrorist organization, who is a former employee of the Interior Ministry.

"It has been established that a 42-year-old citizen of Ukraine, a former employee of the Interior Ministry, in 2014 was recruited by a citizen of the Russian Federation, a member of the so-called Ministry of State Security of the DPR (self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic). On the instructions of his Russian supervisor, the criminal formed sabotage and reconnaissance groups, made mainly from former law enforcement officers and soldiers who were to commit sabotage and terrorist acts on the territory of Kharkiv region," the SBU press center reported on Saturday.

In addition, on the instructions of the DPR terrorists the recruited offender collected and sent to the enemy the intelligence about the deployment and movement of Ukrainian army units, data about the protection of the defense industry facilities, information about members of volunteer battalions and active participants in patriotic movement. He was also preparing a terrorist attack on the Kharkiv Armored Plant.

During the search of his house, grenades and explosives were found, which he planned to use for terrorist attacks in Kharkiv on May 9-10, the SBU press center reported.