MOSCOW, November 2. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported the seizure of a mined batch of FPV drone goggles intended for the Russian military in the special military operation zone as humanitarian aid.
"The Federal Security Service thwarted a series of sabotage and terrorist attacks using improvised explosive devices concealed inside FPV drone goggles intended for delivery to the Russian military in the special military operation zone, which were plotted by Ukrainian special services," the FSB said.
According to the agency, acting on instructions from military counterintelligence, a Russian serviceman in the Volgograd Region brought two FPV goggles he had received from a volunteer to the FSB for inspection. Explosive ordnance specialists established that Ukrainian special services had planted improvised explosive devices in the FPV goggles instead of cooling solutions. "As a result of the measures taken, a batch of similar improvised explosives camouflaged as FPV goggles, sent into the country via the Russian Post, has been confiscated across Russia," the FSB said.
The explosive devices would have detonated when the FPV glasses were switched on, potentially killing servicemen, the FSB added.
"Posing as pseudo-patriots, agents of Ukrainian special services established communication with representatives of Russian humanitarian organizations and charity foundations, using anonymous accounts on the Telegram messenger," to arrange supplies to Russian Defense Ministry units, the FSB continued. During these exchanges, they refused to share their names, phone numbers and job information or switch to the Max messenger for calls as they communicated with volunteers to arrange the delivery of FPV goggles with homemade explosive devices, while demanding video feedback with words of gratitude from Russian fighters, the FSB said.
According to the enemy’s plans, volunteers were supposed to later deliver the FPV goggles laden with improvised explosive devices to Russian drone operators taking part in combat operations against Ukrainian troops, the FSB noted.
A criminal case has been opened, and efforts to identify those responsible for the shipment are underway, the FSB concluded.