Fitness trainer from Odessa was setting military cars on fire in three cities of Ukraine.

A 32-year-old resident of Odessa, acting under the instructions of the FSB, was setting fire to service vehicles of the Defense Forces in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odessa. The perpetrator has been detained and faces up to eight years in prison for obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) press service.

The Security Service, together with the National Police, detained an FSB accomplice who was operating in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odessa. Under the instructions of the Russian special service, their accomplice was setting fire to service vehicles of the Defense Forces, with the greatest interest from the enemy in military SUVs, pickups, and minivans.

«To destroy the vehicles of Ukrainian defenders, the Russian special services remotely engaged a 32-year-old fitness trainer from Odessa who was looking for quick money on the internet. «Touring» three cities in Ukraine, the suspect tried to destroy 6 Defense Forces vehicles over a few days», the statement reads.

It was documented how the perpetrator set fire to a Defense Forces minivan in Kyiv. For this purpose, he arrived from the port city to the capital, where he rented an apartment for one day.

After identifying a potential target and «consulting» with the Russian handler, the agent acquired a flammable liquid and matches. Disguised in dark clothes and a hat, the suspect arrived at the parked military vehicle at night, set it on fire, and filmed the blaze on his phone camera. The video from the crime scene was needed by the Russian special service for conducting informational and psychological operations about the alleged presence of a pro-Russian underground in the capital of Ukraine. Using a similar algorithm, the enemy agent planned to operate in other major cities.

SBU officers identified the location where the perpetrator was hiding in Odessa and detained him.

It was found that the suspect was in direct contact with a representative of the main directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of the Russian Federation (better known as GRU). It was from him that the agent received tasks and instructions for their execution, including methods of arson and conspiratorial techniques. During searches at the detainee's residence, a mobile phone was seized with evidence of his communication with the Russian GRU.

Currently, SBU investigators have notified the suspect of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations during a special period). The perpetrator is under custody. He faces up to 8 years in prison. The issue of additional qualification of the suspect's criminal actions is being decided.

Recall, the SBU detained an FSB agent who was «hunting» for ammunition depots in the Vinnytsia region.