The suspect was allegedly recruited to place concealed short-range UAVs for a remotely triggered strike

Russian authorities have thwarted a suspected Ukrainian plot to carry out a short-range drone attack on an airbase in Saratov Region, officials said on Thursday.

A Russian citizen has been detained after being caught with a bag containing equipment intended for the operation, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement. The seized items reportedly included two first-person-view drones, a pair of anti-tank grenades, detonators, around 600 grams of plastic explosives, and a relay device designed to enable remote control of the drones from a large distance.

According to investigators, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) instructed the suspect - described as a man in his mid-50s - to prepare the drones, hide them roughly 10 km from the targeted facility, and leave the area before the strike was initiated remotely. The man admitted he agreed to participate for financial compensation and reportedly intended to leave Russia after carrying out the order. He has been charged with involvement in a terrorist conspiracy.

The alleged plot was foiled jointly by the FSB, the Investigative Committee, the Interior Ministry, and the National Guard. The Russian authorities did not disclose the specific airbase that was targeted. Saratov Region is home to several air force installations, including the Engels airbase, which hosts elements of Russia's long-range bomber fleet.

Both Russia and Ukraine have conducted strikes deep behind enemy lines as part of the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian forces have increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries and port facilities, aiming to inflict economic damage. Moscow has said such actions have led it to expand its list of targets in Ukraine to include energy facilities linked to weapons production, particularly those involved in manufacturing long-range drones.

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Russian officials have also accused Ukrainian intelligence services of carrying out a broad range of covert operations inside Russia, including targeted killings and suicide bombing attacks on security personnel. These activities often involve individuals recruited online, some motivated by ideology or financial incentives, and others coerced into criminal actions through scam tactics.