SSU neutralizes enemy group planning to shoot down passenger aircraft

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has neutralized an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group (SRG), which was plotting a terrorist attack to shoot down a passenger aircraft over Russia or Belarus in order to accuse the Ukrainian side.

The relevant statement was made by the SSU on Telegram.

"The SSU has conducted a multi-stage special operation, during which they neutralized a deeply secreted enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group. The agents of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces were plotting a terrorist attack to shoot down a passenger aircraft over the territory of Russia or Belarus," the report states.

Russian occupiers were planning to accuse Ukraine and its partners of the attack on the aircraft. In order to make a provocation, attackers wanted to open fire on a civilian aircraft with the Stinger man-portable air-defense system. Russia's security officials instructed their agents to steal and smuggle a foreign-made Stinger system for this purpose.

The enemy SRG included two persons with dual citizenship and one accomplice recruited by them. Their activities were coordinated by Russian Alexander Tyuterev, a staff member of the Main Department of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, using the call sign 'Morpekh'. Tyuterev used to take part in a series of terrorist attacks committed in Odesa Region and was on the wanted list.

The SSU detained all members of the enemy SRG. Investigative and operational actions are underway to substantiate the facts of the crime and bring its heads to justice.