The Russian Federation is increasingly using sabotage and terrorist acts as a tool of hybrid warfare against Ukraine. This was stated by Deputy Head of the National Police, Andriy Nebitov, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. According to him, enemy intelligence services are not merely encouraging chaos but are taking direct control over the preparation and execution of crimes on Ukrainian territory.

Crime Statistics and Arrests

Recorded statistics indicate a worrying trend. To date, 22 terrorist acts have been committed on Ukrainian territory. Law enforcement agencies have successfully solved 18 of these crimes. During the investigations, 24 individuals suspected of involvement in sabotage have been detained.

Particularly alarming is the age of some of those detained: six of them are minors aged between 16 and 17. This confirms the thesis that enemy propaganda and recruitment are increasingly targeting the youth.

Who Becomes the Target of Attacks

Andriy Nebitov emphasized that the overwhelming majority of crimes are committed by order and under the strict control of Russian intelligence agencies. The primary targets for perpetrators are most often representatives of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies.

Specifically:

  • In five cases, the targets of the attacks were police officers.
  • In six cases, military personnel were the targets.
  • In another six incidents, the objects of the attempted attacks were not clearly defined by the handlers, as police and SBU officers intervened at the preparation stage.

Methods and Tools of Recruitment

The most common method of carrying out attacks remains the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In 18 cases, the issue was specifically their preparation or use. In another four incidents, ammunition was involved.

The key channel for recruiting perpetrators has become the Telegram messenger. According to Nebitov, 82% of the terrorist acts uncovered in Ukraine were committed by individuals recruited by Russian handlers specifically through this communication channel. The messenger remains the main tool for finding and managing saboteurs.

Effectiveness of Blocking

The National Police holds the view that a complete ban on Telegram will not solve the problem of sabotage. Experts believe that Russian handlers will quickly adapt and switch to other platforms for communication with perpetrators; therefore, combating this phenomenon requires a more comprehensive approach.