Теракт в Николаеве: четверо подростков, изготовивших взрывчатку, стали подозреваемыми.

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General, Security Service of Ukraine, and National Police.

In the past day, four minors from the Poltava region, aged between 14 and 17, were apprehended after being recruited by Russians via Telegram channels promoting “easy money.”

Following the instructions from Russian security services, the youths independently crafted an improvised explosive device, concealed it in a backpack, and handed this “parcel” to a 42-year-old woman from a neighboring village.

In exchange for the promise of “quick earnings” from the Russian Federation, the woman traveled to Mykolaiv to deliver what she believed was a bag of money to a local resident.

Unaware that she was carrying explosives, the woman approached a parking area near a café where a group of Ukrainian soldiers were stationed. As soon as she got close to them, the Russians remotely detonated the explosives via a call to her mobile phone.

According to the SBU, the Russians had premeditated the elimination of their agent as an “unnecessary” witness to the terrorist act.

Meanwhile, the minors involved went into hiding at their homes, where they awaited payments from the Russians. They were subsequently apprehended by law enforcement.

During searches, law enforcement seized phones containing evidence of contacts with the FSB, as well as components for making explosives.

What punishment awaits?

The four suspects have been charged under part 2 of Article 28, part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—terrorist act committed by a group of persons by prior agreement, resulting in loss of life.

They are currently in custody. Despite their young age, they face the possibility of life imprisonment.

What happened in Mykolaiv?

On February 14, an unidentified object exploded on Pohranichna Street in Mykolaiv near a dining establishment.

As a result of the explosion, three soldiers from the Mine Action Center were killed, and others were injured. Investigators, forensic experts, bomb technicians, SBU personnel, rescuers, and medics were on-site. The SBU in the Mykolaiv region is conducting an investigation under part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—terrorist act. Further details have not been disclosed by law enforcement.

In the meantime, information circulated on Telegram channels that the explosives were placed in a bag belonging to a specific woman. The popular local channel “Mykolaiv Vanyok” wrote that the woman seemingly did not know she was carrying explosives and also died as a result of the explosion. Russian outlets claimed this was the woman’s “revenge” against the military enlistment center workers for her son who died after being mobilized.

The Government Center for Countering Disinformation, having verified the data with the police, partially confirmed the information: a woman died as a result of the explosion, but she did not have any sons of mobilization age. She had two sons born in 2001 and 2011. After checking the identity of the older son, it was found that he is not a serviceman.