Ukraine's SBU foils multiple terror plots including acid attack on activist and bombings near judges' homes

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on September 15 announced the disruption of multiple Russian-orchestrated terrorist operations targeting Ukrainian civilians and officials. Among the foiled plots was a planned acid attack against a prominent Ukrainian civic activist. SBU investigators determined that Russian handlers had recruited local accomplices to carry out the attack, which aimed to intimidate civil society figures and create a climate of fear. In separate operations, the SBU also thwarted planned explosive attacks targeting the residences of Ukrainian judges. The plots were part of what Ukrainian security officials described as a systematic Russian campaign to destabilize Ukraine's judicial system and intimidate officials involved in war crimes prosecutions. Several suspects were detained in connection with the operations. The SBU stated that Russian intelligence services had specifically targeted individuals who were involved in documenting Russian war crimes or who had spoken out against the Russian occupation. Ukrainian authorities noted the operations showed continued Russian attempts to conduct terrorism on Ukrainian territory despite the ongoing conflict, targeting not only military but also civilian and institutional figures.