Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday that its agents shot and killed two individuals suspected of plotting a drone attack on a petrochemical facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
“A sabotage and terrorist attack planned by Ukrainian special services was prevented in the Nizhny Novgorod region, involving two Central Asian nationals who adhered to the ideology of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted the FSB as saying.
The law enforcement agency claimed that the two individuals had sought to attack the plant using first-person view (FPV) drones equipped with improvised explosive devices.
“During their arrest, they opened fire and were neutralized by return fire,” the FSB was quoted as saying, adding that foreign-made explosives, as well as a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a Makarov pistol, were recovered at the scene.
The law enforcement agency also claimed to have found messages between the suspects and their alleged Ukrainian handler, along with coordinates for a weapons cache. Regional investigators launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
The Moscow Times could not independently verify the claims.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian law enforcement authorities have regularly blamed Ukraine for planning sabotage attacks inside the country, though details of these cases are rarely made public.
Ukraine has not commented on the FSB’s latest claims.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
