ISTANBUL

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Tuesday that it detained a dual Russian-Ukrainian citizen accused of plotting a car bombing in the Moscow region to kill a high-ranking defense ministry official.

The suspect, born in 1989 and allegedly recruited by Ukrainian special services under the pseudonym “Voron” in a third country, was arrested on the M-4 highway while en route to the planned attack site, the FSB said.

According to the agency, the man had assembled an improvised explosive device (IED) containing over 60 kilograms of explosives, concealed inside a car purchased with funds sent by his handler.

The vehicle was allegedly intended to be parked at a designated location and detonated when the targeted officer passed nearby.

During interrogation, the suspect is said to have disclosed he installed the explosives under the spare wheel and placed an electronic triggering component inside the dashboard.

He was allegedly promised assistance in returning to Ukraine and avoiding mobilization into the Ukrainian armed forces in exchange for carrying out the attack.

Criminal cases have been opened on charges of treason and the illegal manufacture, storage, transport, sale, and transfer of explosives or explosive devices.