Russian intelligence says it thwarted Ukrainian bid to poison defense enterprise staff

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Tuesday that it thwarted an intelligence operation by Ukraine aimed at poisoning employees of a defense enterprise.

The FSB confirmed the detention of a suspect — a Russian citizen allegedly acting under the instructions of Ukraine’s intelligence services.

"The FSB prevented a terrorist act planned by Ukraine's special services using toxic chemicals to poison employees of one of the military-industrial enterprises in the Yaroslavl region," the FSB Public Relations Center said in a statement.

According to the FSB, the suspect was apprehended while retrieving two containers of hazardous chemicals from a cache set up by Ukrainian special services. These chemicals, the FSB claimed, were capable of causing severe respiratory burns and potentially fatal outcomes.

The Russian security service claimed that the suspect intended to introduce the chemicals into the air ducts of vehicles belonging to employees of the targeted enterprise.

"The terrorist’s activities were coordinated from Ukrainian territory via foreign internet messengers," the FSB added, citing evidence allegedly found on the suspect's communication devices.

The FSB emphasized that this incident was not an isolated case. In October 2023, the agency reported detaining a Ukrainian Security Service agent who had purportedly distributed poisoned drinks and confectionery during a celebration marking the anniversary of the Armavir Higher Military Aviation School in the city of Armavir.

In February 2024, four Russian citizens allegedly recruited by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate were detained. They were accused of planning to contaminate food products in St. Petersburg with a highly toxic chemical, intended for Russian military personnel under the guise of humanitarian aid.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia's claims.