The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered a chilling plot orchestrated by Russian special services that led to a deadly bombing at a military recruitment center in Rivne on February 1, 2025.
According to Sky news, The explosion resulted in the death of the bomb carrier, a 21-year-old man from Zhytomyr Oblast, and left eight Ukrainian servicemen injured. According to the SBU, the attack highlights Russia's brutal tactics to undermine Ukraine’s defense capabilities and destabilize its mobilization efforts.
The young man, unemployed and reportedly desperate, was recruited by Russian agents through Telegram channels. He was promised financial compensation for carrying out the task. Armed with an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a tourist backpack, the suspect was sent to the recruitment center in Rivne. The device was rigged to a mobile phone, which allowed Russian operatives to remotely detonate the bomb.
In a shocking twist, the SBU's investigation revealed that the Russian agents had planned to kill the recruit once he completed his mission. Using the camera on the suspect’s phone, Russian operatives monitored his actions and activated the bomb while he was still wearing it, ensuring his death. The explosion instantly killed the man and injured several Ukrainian servicemen who were nearby.
This attack comes amid increasing tensions surrounding Ukraine’s military mobilization. The country's recruitment centers have become focal points of both internal and external conflict, with Ukraine struggling to maintain sufficient manpower to counter Russia’s ongoing assault. On the same day of the Rivne bombing, another attack in Poltava Oblast saw the death of a Ukrainian serviceman who was escorting newly mobilized recruits, further intensifying the situation.
The SBU has labeled the incident as an act of terrorism, underscoring the extent to which Russia is willing to go to destabilize Ukraine’s military and sabotage its defense efforts. The attack also serves as a grim reminder of the growing threat posed by Russian agents within Ukrainian territory, as Moscow continues to deploy covert methods to erode Ukraine's security infrastructure.
As investigations continue, Ukrainian authorities are determined to uncover the full extent of Russia's sabotage operations targeting their military recruitment system, which has become a key part of Ukraine's defense strategy against Russian aggression. The incident in Rivne further emphasizes the high stakes of the war, as both sides vie for control of resources and manpower.