Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had successfully blocked a plan to attack nuclear facilities on the eve of Moscow’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
The FSB announced on May 25 that it had prevented an attack on Russia’s nuclear facilities. Moscow accused Ukrainian special forces of being behind the incident.
Specifically, according to the Russian side, the incident happened on May 8, the day before Russia held a Victory Day parade commemorating defeating Nazi Germany in World War II. The FSB discovered that an intelligence group was planning to detonate more than 30 transmission towers of the high-voltage transmission lines of the Leningrad and Kalinin nuclear power plants. The FSB said the targeted attacks forced Russia to shut down its reactors and disrupt the regular operations of the plants. If the plan succeeds, it will cause serious economic and reputational damage to Russia.
“The attackers plan to detonate a power transmission tower and mine seven other towers of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, and plant improvised explosive devices under the seven transmission towers of the Nuclear Power Plant. Kalinin,” the statement added.
The FSB announced the arrest of two Ukrainians, accusing them of being recruited and specially trained by the Kiev side. In addition, the FSB also arrested two Russian citizens suspected of being accomplices. Another suspect with dual Russian and Ukrainian citizenship is being put on the wanted list.
Ukraine has not commented on the Russian allegations.
In another development, Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev accused Ukraine on May 25 of sending a drone to attack the port city of Crimea, where Russia has the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet. Razvozhaev claimed that the raid was successful and that the drones did not cause any damage and that authorities are still monitoring the situation.
The official claimed that at least two UAVs were shot down by the Black Sea Fleet forces with light weapons, while several others were neutralized and intercepted with electronic warfare weapons.
Earlier, on May 24, Russia announced that it had blocked a suicide drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet.
