Elena Teslova
06 June 2023•Update: 06 June 2023
MOSCOW
Russia claimed on Tuesday that Ukrainian intelligence is planning new "terrorist attacks" in Russia, including the use of a "dirty bomb" containing nuclear components.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement posted on its website that Ukrainian military pilots detained by Russian security forces revealed the plot during their interrogations.
To back up its claim, the FSB released a video alongside the statement, showing two Ukrainian military pilots detained in April and May in the Bryansk and Tula regions after a forced landing, who revealed the entire plot.
According to the statement, they confessed to terrorist acts committed and planned by the Main Directorate of Intelligence (MDI) of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine (DMU).
The FSB said it obtained information about Ukraine's plans to commit a "terrorist act on Russian territory using the so-called dirty bomb (an explosive device containing nuclear components)" while investigating the sabotage planned for May to blow up long-range aircraft stationed at the Severny airfield in Russia's Ivanovo region.
According to the statement, MDI head Kyrylo Budanov created the 3rd service of his department, which includes light-engine aircraft to supply sabotage and reconnaissance groups on Russian territory with means of destruction.
Another task assigned to the group is to carry out strikes at fuel and energy infrastructure facilities by dropping bombs, it added.
The FSB claimed that the coordination of the use of light-engine aircraft was entrusted to military unit No. 3449 with the conditional name Legion.
"In particular, a plan was being developed for the delivery and laying of so-called dirty bombs equipped with delay timers to simultaneously detonate and render the area unusable for people to live in," it said.
Ukraine's military intelligence planned and carried out five raids into Russian territory, causing damage to fuel and energy complex facilities in the regions bordering Ukraine, it added.
To infiltrate Russia, the Ukrainian military used light-engine planes that fly at low altitudes and are invisible to air defense radars designed for bigger targets.
