Police and SSU foil large-scale terrorist attack involving 6-kg explosives in center of Ivano-Frankivsk

The police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) foiled a large-scale terrorist attack in the center of Ivano-Frankivsk. According to the plan devised by russian intelligence agencies, two homemade explosive devices were to detonate in a parking lot and near a residential building. The second explosion was to occur after police, rescue workers, and medical personnel arrived at the scene of the first attack.

The National Police told the Ukrainian News agency about this.

To prepare for this crime, russian intelligence services recruited a local resident through one of the Telegram channels, luring him with offers of “easy money.” He received step-by-step instructions from his handler on how to prepare for the crime, select a location for manufacturing the explosive devices, maintain secrecy, and subsequently place the explosives.

Each explosive device was planned to be loaded with about six kilograms of explosive material and a large number of metal fragments to maximize the blast radius.

Police reported that one explosive device was to be planted in a parking lot, and the other near the entrance to a residential building. The second explosion was planned to occur after police, rescue workers, and medical personnel arrived at the scene of the first attack. In this way, the enemy sought to inflict maximum damage and cause mass casualties among the civilian population and emergency responders.

Thanks to the timely efforts of the SSU’s counterintelligence unit, the attack was thwarted at the planning stage, after which the russian agent was recruited to work against russian intelligence services.

While documenting the criminal activity, specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Main Department of the National Police in the Ivano-Frankivsk Region, in coordination with SSU officers, provided technical support for the special operation, examined the design of the explosive devices, and assessed their potential destructive power. According to the conclusions of the police bomb disposal experts, if the two homemade explosive devices had detonated, the consequences could have been catastrophic and resulted in numerous casualties.

Thanks to the professional cooperation between the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine, a large-scale terrorist attack was prevented and lives were saved.

The police urge citizens to remain vigilant. If you receive suspicious offers of “easy money” or are asked to carry out questionable tasks, immediately report it by calling the special hotline at 102.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the day before, the Security Service foiled yet another attempt by russian occupiers to carry out a terrorist attack in Kyiv. Law enforcement detained two female agents of the aggressor country who were planning an assassination attempt on a member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.