MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Officers from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) have detained four Ukrainian intelligence agents, including a foreign national, who were gathering information on participants in the special military operation, as well as defense and energy facilities, in three Russian regions, the FSB said in a statement.

"The Federal Security Service in the Republic of Adygea, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Omsk Region foiled subversive and terrorist activities by agents of Ukrainian intelligence agencies," the statement reads.

"As a result of operations conducted in Maikop, Donetsk and Omsk, three Russian citizens and a foreign national were detained. Acting on instructions from their Ukrainian handlers, they were collecting information about Russian service members taking part in the special military operation, as well as about defense industry enterprises and energy facilities, with the aim of carrying out acts of terrorism and sabotage," the FSB pointed out.

The detainees also disseminated online materials calling for terrorism-related crimes. Their activities were coordinated via the Telegram messaging service. "They were promised a large cash reward and relocation to the European Union for cooperating with Ukrainian intelligence agencies," the FSB added.

A homemade explosive device ready for use and a hand grenade were seized from the person detained in Donetsk, the FSB said.

Regional investigative authorities have initiated criminal cases against the detainees on charges including plotting terrorist attacks, assisting an adversary in activities knowingly directed against Russia's security, high treason, preparing acts of sabotage, illegally possessing explosives or explosive devices, and calling for terrorist activities. All four have been remanded in custody. If found guilty, they could face lengthy prison terms, including life imprisonment, the FSB stressed.

FSB’s warning

The FSB reiterated that Ukrainian intelligence agencies continue to actively seek to recruit people online, including through social media and messaging services, to carry out acts of terrorism and sabotage, "while they never fulfill their promises of asylum in European countries and hefty cash rewards.".