Ukraine Claims It Foiled a Russian Bomb Attack in Kyiv on the Anniversary of Victory Over the Nazis

JAKARTA - Ukraine on Monday announced that it had succeeded in thwarting a Russian operation to detonate a number of bombs in the capital Kyiv and at a defense company in Lyiv.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said in a statement that the four bombs were intended to be detonated in the capital on May 9, the day Russia celebrated the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in 1945.

"According to the plan of the Russian special services, the explosive was supposed to be detonated during supermarket rush hour to cause maximum damage to the civilian population," the agency said via Telegram, reported by Reuters, May 14.

In Kyiv, explosives destined for the building materials market were disguised as tea packets. Meanwhile a bomb was placed in the car to explode near the cafe, according to the SBU.

The attack in Lviv was also planned to take place in February, the SBU said. an unidentified defense company was the target, according to prosecutors.

Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General's Office wrote in the Telegram application that two Russian military agents were detained on suspicion of involvement in the alleged plot, with around 19 explosive devices confiscated.

There has been no immediate comment from Russia regarding this claim.

Ukraine is known to frequently say it has thwarted off-front attacks planned by Russian security services, detaining agents it said were working for Moscow.

Most recently, the SBU said it had arrested two agents in the State Protection Department who planned the assassination of President Volodymyr Zelensky and military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov last week.