The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained a Russian agent who was preparing a terrorist attack in central Mykolaiv. The suspect was identified as a serviceman who had deserted his military unit.

According to Ukrinform, the SSU's Mykolaiv regional office reported the arrest on Telegram.

"The Security Service's counterintelligence officers prevented another terrorist attack in Mykolaiv. Acting in advance, they detained a Russian agent who was preparing to kill a member of the Ukrainian Defense Forces using an improvised explosive device," the statement said.

The SSU said its officers caught the suspect in the act as he was placing an explosive device underneath the vehicle of a Ukrainian serviceman.

The investigation found that the suspect was a mobilized serviceman from the Bashtanka district who had been recruited by Russian intelligence. He came to the attention of Russian operatives after abandoning his military unit without authorization and searching for "easy money" through Telegram channels.

According to the SSU, after receiving instructions from his Russian handlers, the suspect conducted surveillance near the intended target's vehicle and informed his handler that he was ready to carry out the attack. He was then given the coordinates of a cache from which he retrieved the improvised explosive device before attempting to secretly attach it beneath the serviceman's car.

Investigators also established that the deserter had received another assignment from Russia—to register Starlink satellite terminals on behalf of Russian intelligence.

The suspect initially registered one of the internet communication devices in his own name and passed the registration details to his handlers in Russia.

He later attempted to recruit his wife and ten drug-dependent individuals to secretly register additional Starlink terminals. They agreed to provide their passport details in exchange for promises of money to buy drugs.

According to the SSU, Russia planned to use the satellite terminals to coordinate missile, aerial bomb, artillery, and drone strikes on Ukraine's southern front.

During searches, officers seized the suspect's smartphone, which he had used to communicate with his Russian handler. The illegally registered Starlink terminal has been blocked.

The SSU has charged the suspect with high treason committed under martial law and attempted commission of a terrorist act under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

He remains in custody without the possibility of bail and faces a potential life sentence with confiscation of property.

As previously reported, the SSU recently detained another Russian informant in Mykolaiv who was preparing intelligence for a new wave of Russian air strikes on the city.