Kharkiv trial for man accused of preparing TATP bomb on Russian orders
A 35-year-old resident of Svitlovodsk in Kirovohrad Oblast will stand trial in Kharkiv on charges of preparing a terrorist act on behalf of Russian special services. Prosecutors say he manufactured about 12 kg of a TATP-based explosive and planned to detonate it remotely in the city. He was detained in early June after a search of his residence, and an indictment has been filed by the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office.
Key points
- 35-year-old resident of Svitlovodsk, Kirovohrad Oblast, to be tried in Kharkiv.
- Manufactured approximately 12 kg of a TATP-based explosive substance.
- Planned to detonate a bomb remotely in Kharkiv via a mobile phone.
- Recruited via Telegram in May 2026 by a client offering around $10,000.
- Detained in early June after a search of his rented apartment; explosives and components seized.
- Charged with preparation of a terrorist act by prior conspiracy by a group of persons and illegal manufacture and storage of explosives.
- Case will be heard by the Novobavarsky District Court of Kharkiv; investigation handled by the SBU's Kharkiv Oblast department.
Why it matters
Ukrainian prosecutors say the defendant was acting on orders from Russian special services and was preparing a remotely detonated TATP-based bomb in Kharkiv, a major city that has suffered frequent Russian strikes. The seizure of roughly 12 kg of assembled explosive before it could be used points to a potentially high-casualty attack that was averted. The recruitment via Telegram, with a promised payment of about $10,000, also illustrates how messaging platforms are being used to coordinate attacks on Ukrainian soil.
What happened
According to the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, a 35-year-old resident of Svitlovodsk in Kirovohrad Oblast is to be tried in Kharkiv on charges of preparing a terrorist act on behalf of Russian special services. Investigators say that in May 2026 the man found an employer through Telegram who offered him around $10,000 to carry out an attack in the city. Following the client's instructions, he traveled to Kharkiv, rented an apartment, purchased the necessary components and produced roughly 12 kg of an explosive substance containing triacetone triperoxide (TATP). He planned to detonate the device remotely via a mobile phone.
In early June 2026, law enforcement searched his residence and seized explosive components and the finished explosive substance. The man was detained and taken into custody. A prosecutor from the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment; the case will be heard by the Novobavarsky District Court of Kharkiv. The defendant is charged with preparation of a terrorist act by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, as well as illegal manufacture and storage of explosives. The pre-trial investigation and operational support were carried out by the SBU department in Kharkiv Oblast. According to reporting, the accused has expressed remorse and cooperated in uncovering the offense.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Reporting comes from a Ukrainian-language outlet covering a case handled entirely by Ukrainian law enforcement and prosecutors, so the framing centers on the domestic prosecution and the alleged Russian special-services link. The case is presented as evidence of a foiled Russian-directed terrorist operation in Kharkiv.