FSB reports ‘Ukrainian recruit’ murdered in Siberian shootout

(MENAFN) A Russian man suspected of working with Ukrainian intelligence and planning a bombing was killed in a shootout with security forces in Western Siberia, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Monday.

The confrontation occurred in the Tyumen Region as the suspect attempted to retrieve an improvised explosive device (IED) from a hidden cache. Video released by the FSB shows the man exiting a vehicle in a secluded area before engaging with approaching officers. The footage includes drone and thermal imaging, capturing the moment the suspect throws a grenade and changes position before being fatally shot by law enforcement.

Authorities stated the man, believed to be in his late 30s, had been recruited by Ukrainian intelligence in early 2025. Initially assigned to monitor military train movements along the Trans-Siberian Railway, he later began planning the assassination of a Russian military service member by placing an explosive under the target’s vehicle.

The FSB also released images of tactical equipment, grenade parts, and other materials allegedly found at the suspect’s residence.

President Vladimir Putin has condemned what he calls Ukraine’s transformation into a terrorist entity, blaming its Western backers for enabling sabotage operations inside Russia.

The FSB continues to warn of increasing recruitment efforts by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out attacks within Russia, frequently reporting the disruption of such plots and the arrest of suspects.

MENAFN24072025000045015687ID1109841345