The FSB said it had detained suspects accused of preparing a drone attack on military airfields in the Amur and Chelyabinsk regions. Interfax reported this, citing the agency’s press service.
According to the FSB, it received “advance information” that Ukrainian special services intended to send FPV drones and balloons to the Bryansk region in preparation for attacks on airfields. The agency’s statement says the drones were then transported in vehicles loaded with household appliances and trailers with false bottoms.
The FSB claims the drones were delivered in this way to the Ukrainka airfield in the Amur region and the Shagol airfield in the Chelyabinsk region. It says the devices were then prepared for the attack in rented garages.
“At the same time, every unlawful act was under close operational control by Russian special services and was documented,” the FSB said.
The agency reported the detention of “perpetrators and accomplices of terrorist acts”. It says officers seized 24 FPV drones allegedly equipped with neural-network control modules resistant to electronic warfare, as well as explosives. The FSB also says it confiscated ground control stations with self-destruct devices and communication tools allegedly used to contact “Ukrainian handlers”.
The agency did not specify how many people were detained. Video released by the FSB shows the detention of two men. According to the service, the planned attack was being prepared “with the direct participation of Western handlers”. Its statement also says it prevented a series of sabotage and terrorist acts targeting military infrastructure, one of the country’s leading defense-industry enterprises, and Russian service members.
On July 10, the FSB had already accused Ukraine of preparing a mass strike by 13 attack drones on the Rostov-Tsentralny military airfield. At that time, the agency said one of the alleged participants was a Russian citizen who later voluntarily came to the FSB and reported the planned attack.