Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday it had arrested a Russian Navy sailor on suspicion of plotting to blow up a warship.
The FSB said the crew had been recruited by Ukrainian special forces “to carry out terrorist attacks on ships of the Black Sea Fleet equipped with high-precision missile weapons”. In addition, the crew member was said to be in possession of two improvised explosive devices at the time of his arrest.
Unlike previous arrests of vandalism suspects, Thursday’s FSB statement did not include photos or videos of the arrests.
Early Thursday morning, the Ukrainian Navy announced that seven Russian warships, one carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, were engaged in combat operations in the Black Sea.
The FSB also accused the detained sailors of sharing state secrets with Kiev, according to Interfax news agency. He was charged with terrorism, high treason, trafficking in explosives, and leaking state secrets. This charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.