A resident of Kharkiv established contact via messenger with a militant from the "DNR special forces," who is fighting against Ukraine in the east and cooperating with the Russian military intelligence (known as GRU). In October 2025, the man agreed to blow up a gas infrastructure facility in the Kharkiv region.

The man set up an underground "workshop" in his parents' house in the Berestynskyi district, where he personally manufactured homemade explosives, which he intended to place near a key section of gas lines that provide heating to the Kharkiv and Poltava regions.

During a search of the "workshop," law enforcement officers seized a ready-to-use homemade explosive device, as well as a smartphone containing evidence of working for the enemy.

Under the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, the 54-year-old man was notified of suspicion for preparing a terrorist act committed by a group of individuals in conspiracy (part 1 of article 14, part 2 of article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The court chose a preventive measure in the form of non-alternative detention. The issue of additional qualification of the suspect's actions for state treason committed under martial law (part 2 of article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) is being resolved.

The pre-trial investigation and operational support are conducted by the SBU in the Kharkiv region.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.