Ukraine: Russia's Plot to Detonate Multiple Locations in Kyiv and Lviv Foiled

On Monday, May 13, Ukraine announced that it had thwarted a Russian operation aimed at a series of bombings in a construction materials market and near a café in Kyiv, as well as a defense company in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. The Ukrainian Attorney General's Office stated in a Telegram message that two Russian military officers had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in this plot, and 19 explosive devices were discovered and seized at the scene. Reuters, citing Ukraine's Security Service, reported that Russia intended to detonate four bombs in various locations in Kyiv on May 9, coinciding with the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. The Security Service of Ukraine stated in a Telegram announcement that the Russian 'special organization' aimed to detonate explosives during peak supermarket hours to inflict maximum civilian casualties. Russia has not commented on this matter. According to the Security Service of Ukraine, the explosives intended for the construction materials market were disguised as tea packaging, and a bomb was also hidden in a vehicle for detonation near a cafeteria. The Security Service indicated that Russia had planned to carry out the attack in Lviv last February, targeting a defense company in that city. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it has thwarted planned attacks by Russian intelligence agencies at the front lines and has arrested individuals it claims work for Moscow. Recently, the Security Service of Ukraine announced the arrest of two agents from the Ministry of State Protection who intended to assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky, the President, and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence. Thousands of Ukrainians fled their homes in the northeast of the country following new Russian attacks, with at least 16 killed in a Russian missile strike on the city of Chernihiv in Ukraine. Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been targeted in the largest missile and drone attacks from Russia in recent weeks. Russia has begun a ground invasion of Kharkiv, opening a new front in the northeastern war in Ukraine. Ukraine rejected Russia's claims of capturing five border villages and stated that it is repelling attacks. The occupation of five Ukrainian villages by Russian forces has displaced 1,700 Ukrainian civilians. Ukraine arrested 'two Russian agents' on charges of plotting to assassinate Zelensky. Germany and Poland reported the arrest of several Russian espionage and sabotage operatives. A Russian airstrike on a school in Ukraine left several injured. Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating the ban on the use of chemical weapons. The deadly attacks by Russians in eastern Ukraine continue, with Russian forces leveling a village.