The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) on Tuesday accused two Moldovan citizens of being involved in an alleged drone attack plan on a strategic enterprise in the Moscow region.
The FSB claimed the pair were acting in the interest of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), but did not present evidence to back up the accusations, according to IPN.
According to the FSB, the pair who allegedly had special training, planned to rent a space for launching drones in the Moscow region, and then leave Russia. The FSB claims that the operation would have targeted a strategic objective in a residential area. It said 35 remotely piloted drones, which transmit real-time images to the operator, had been smuggled into Russia, hidden in a shipment of ceramic tiles, on a route that included Slovakia, Poland and Belarus.
Russian authorities also claim that the alleged attacker has been detained, and another person, who allegedly rented the warehouse and received the transport, was killed after allegedly resisting arrest. Russian authorities say they are preparing terrorism charges.
Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the FSB’s claims, and the allegations could not be independently verified. NewsMaker said it had requested a reaction Moldovan Foreign Ministry.
The FSB announced the operation after Moldovan President Maia Sandu attended her first Coalition of the Will summit, hosted by France and attended by 37 countries supporting Ukraine, and after the EU Council approved €120 million to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
