MOSCOW. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Four women, who are agents of Ukrainian special services, have been detained in Sevastopol, Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks on high-ranking Russian military officials and fuel and energy sector facilities, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said.
"The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation thwarted the actions of four female agents in the cities of Sevastopol, Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don, who were recruited by Ukrainian special services to carry out sabotage and terrorist acts against high-ranking officers of the Russian Defense Ministry and facilities of the fuel and energy sector," the FSB press center said in a statement on Friday.
The four were trained in Ukraine to fire small arms, handle explosives, operate drones and conduct outdoor surveillance, it said.
"A considerable amount of explosive substances, chemical precursors to make explosives, electric detonators, instructions on how to assemble improvised bombs and devices for communication with their Ukrainian supervisors were seized from their places of residence during searches," the press center said.
The FSB's investigative units have opened criminal cases against the women on a count of "terrorism-related crimes".
"The detained persons have confessed. They face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty," it said.
"Measures are being taken to identify and hold to account those who helped the women with their unlawful activities," it said.
The FSB declined to disclose the suspects' identities or other details of the operation.