Odesa volunteer killed by Russian agents planning further terror acts, suspects detained

The group was exposed during the investigation of the murder of a 54-year-old volunteer from Odesa. On January 20, the suspects set fire to the volunteer's car parked near his house. When he came out to extinguish the fire, they detonated a homemade explosive device hidden in a backpack nearby. The volunteer, who was also a local businessman, died from his injuries.

According to the Office of the General Prosecutor, the "client" behind the volunteer's murder watched the event in real-time. The perpetrators set up a mobile phone across the street to live-stream the terrorist act.

Investigators determined that four locals, aged 23 to 46, were involved in the murder. The oldest member has a criminal record for theft and robbery, while the others are reportedly drug addicts.

The investigation revealed that the group was recruited by Russian special services, who promised them $2,500 for carrying out the terrorist act.

The suspects were apprehended the day after the explosion while preparing for another attack—a bombing near a regional police station.

Their plan involved setting fire to several police vehicles and then remotely detonating an explosive device when officers arrived at the scene.

To execute this plan, they had checked into a nearby hostel, purchased four cans of gasoline for the arson, and hid an explosive device disguised as a fire extinguisher in a pre-prepared cache.

All four suspects have been detained and charged under Part 3 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for a terrorist act resulting in death.

The court has ordered their detention, and they face life imprisonment with confiscation of property if convicted.