|
The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the
Soviet-era KGB, said that the saboteurs working for Ukrainian
foreign intelligence had laid explosives on a total of 11 pylons of
the Leningrad and Kalinin nuclear power stations.
"The plan of the Ukrainian special services was to prompt the
shutdown of the nuclear reactors, disrupt the operation of the
nuclear power plants and cause serious economic and reputation
damage to the Russian Federation," the FSB said in a statement.
The attacks were due to take place on the eve of the May 9
anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, the FSB said. It did not
say when the men had been arrested.
The Leningrad station is Russia's biggest atomic power plant. It is
located on Gulf of Finland close to St Petersburg. The Kalinin
nuclear power station is 350 km north of Moscow.
The FSB said the saboteurs were recruited in 2022 by Ukraine's
foreign intelligence service (FISU) and received special training at
camps in Kyiv and the Mykolaiv region. They entered Russia via
Poland and Belarus, the FSB said.
Two Russian accomplices were also detained, the FSB said.
The explosives - including 36.6 kg of C-4 plastic explosives, 61
detonators and 38 timers - came via Poland, Lithuania and Belarus,
the FSB said.
"The defendants have confessed to cooperating with the foreign
intelligence service of Ukraine in order to prepare and commit
sabotage on the territory of Russia," the FSB said.
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Peter Graff)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
