MOSCOW. May 3 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported the detection of a channel used by Ukrainian security services to smuggle explosives into Russia from Bulgaria.
The channel was uncovered during an investigation into a network of Ukrainian military intelligence agents in Crimea.
"An international channel smuggling explosives and explosive device components disguised as household electric stoves, which was organized by Ukrainian security services and went from Bulgaria to Russia through the territories of Turkey and Georgia, for being used by members of the said network in terrorist activity has been detected and contained," the FSB said on Wednesday.
Ukrainian citizen Marina Matushchak organized the shipment of electric stoves with bomb components inside to Russia from Bulgaria. The stoves were handed over by Ukrainian citizens Denis Smirnov and Vladislav Sarafinchan, the FSB said.
"The electric stoves were brought to the Russian territory by truck and shipped farther via SDEK and Vozovoz carriers. Russian citizens sharing commercial projects with the Bulgarian company run by Matushchak were by Ukrainian security services without their knowledge for making these shipments," the FSB said.
An investigation into a railroad track blast in Crimea in February "established that explosives seized from the detainees were identical to those used in the act of sabotage," it said.
"Criminal cases were opened, and the defendants started to testify about their cooperation with Ukrainian military intelligence aimed to plot and commit terror attacks in Russia," the FSB said.