Russia has accused Ukraine’s security services of orchestrating a string of 55 arson and bomb attacks across the country. These attacks, which occurred between December 18 and 26, targeted banks, post offices, and police cars in several regions ¹.
According to Russia’s interior ministry, 44 suspects have been arrested in connection with these incidents. Notably, many of the suspects are elderly individuals and minors who were allegedly lured into committing these crimes with promises of easy money. The ministry warns that perpetrators could face up to 20 years in prison.
The suspects reportedly acted on instructions from anonymous supervisors, who communicated with them via telephone or messaging apps. Russia claims that Ukraine’s security services are behind these coordinated attacks, urging citizens to remain vigilant and not fall prey to intimidation or deception.
The attacks are part of a larger trend of vandalism and small-scale attacks that Russia has witnessed since launching its military campaign in Ukraine in 2022. The perpetrators’ tactics have included offering monetary rewards to citizens who commit crimes, as well as intimidating individuals by posing as police officers.
In some cases, scammers have even stolen citizens’ funds and then offered to return the money in exchange for completing specific tasks.
