In Mykolaiv, brothers aged 14 and 16 formed a gang and, under enemy orders, set fire to railway facilities.

The Security Service and the National Police have apprehended 8 accomplices of Russia who, on the enemy's orders, committed arson in various regions of Ukraine. The suspects attempted to destroy relay cabinets of the signaling systems of "Ukrzaliznytsia" in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv regions.

This information was reported by the SBU press service.

According to the case materials, all suspects were recruited by the enemy through Telegram channels seeking easy money.

In the Mykolaiv region, "hot on the trail," two brothers aged 16 and 14 were uncovered as arsonists, who involved two of their acquaintances in the sabotage activities. Together, the young men attempted to destroy four relay cabinets that ensure the safe movement of trains, particularly towards the southern front.

As reported by the communication department of the Mykolaiv police, in December of last year, a report was received on the special line 102 from a specialist of the structural unit of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" about unknown individuals setting fire to a relay cabinet controlling traffic lights in Mykolaiv.

The law enforcement officers conducted a series of search operations and identified the individuals involved in the said crime—four arsonists were caught during their latest attempt to commit sabotage.

It was established that throughout November 2024, a 16-year-old boy repeatedly received offers via messenger to set fire to a railway relay cabinet, transformer substations, military vehicles, and postal communication offices. Each damaged or destroyed object had its own price.

The teenager chose railway facilities as his target. For joint sabotage activities in Mykolaiv, he enlisted his 14-year-old brother and two acquaintances aged 17 and 18.

The criminals identified the "necessary" targets, obtained permission from the contractor for their destruction, and used flammable substances and rags to ignite relay cabinets, signaling systems, and other means of controlling rolling stock along the railway tracks. Each assignment was recorded on video, and they reported back to enemy intelligence services, for which they received monetary rewards. The 16-year-old instigator distributed the entire illegal income among all participants.

During searches at the suspects' residences, police discovered and seized mobile phones and other evidence of criminal activity.

Currently, all four participants have been notified of suspicion under part 2 of article 28 and part 2 of article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—sabotage committed by a group of individuals under preliminary conspiracy in conditions of martial law or during armed conflict. The sanction of the article provides for 15 years of imprisonment or life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The adult suspect was placed under house arrest by the court.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Additionally, in the Kyiv region, an 18-year-old native of Donbas was detained. After the start of the full-scale war, the young man moved to the capital, where in 2025 he agreed to work for the FSB.

Under the instructions of the occupiers, the agent damaged a relay cabinet for a railway traffic light regulating train movement through the Kyiv region.

The suspect was detained within a day after the arson. Thus, his first task from the FSB became his last.

In the Zhytomyr region, three more criminals were apprehended. Two of them are 23-year-old drug addicts who acted in "tandem": one set fire to railway equipment while his girlfriend recorded the crime.

The other suspect is a 20-year-old contract deserter who burned a relay cabinet of a signaling system while hiding from justice.

Based on the uncovered facts, the criminals have been charged with suspicion in accordance with the committed crimes under part 2 of article 28 and part 2 of article 113 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (sabotage committed in conditions of martial law).
The criminals are currently in custody. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Comprehensive measures were conducted by the SBU employees in Kyiv and the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv regions in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural guidance of regional prosecutors.