Eight Arrested in Bashkortostan for Alleged Mobile Infrastructure Sabotage Scheme

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia announced on Monday that it has apprehended eight individuals in the Bashkortostan region on suspicion of conspiring to disrupt mobile phone infrastructure, according to reports from state media.

The FSB stated that a resident of Salavat allegedly reached out to an unidentified individual through Telegram with the intention of making money. This individual purportedly instructed him to set fire to local cell towers and damage fiber-optic cables.

The «client» selected the intended targets and required the suspect to provide video evidence of the acts of sabotage, although the FSB did not present any proof for these claims.

The primary suspect is said to have recruited another individual, who, in turn, enlisted the participation of six others to execute the alleged plan, as reported by the intelligence agency.

According to the statement, all eight individuals were captured while attempting to damage the telecommunications equipment.

A video released by the state-owned news agency TASS, through the FSB, showed the eight accused individuals in a courtroom, their faces obscured. At least one was noted to be a young woman.

In contrast to earlier FSB videos, this footage did not include any on-camera admissions from those apprehended, leaving uncertain whether they had confessed to the charges. Instead, the brief video depicted an FSB officer leading the group from the courthouse to an unmarked vehicle.

Officials have initiated a criminal investigation into the attempted sabotage, which carries a possible penalty of life imprisonment. The investigation is still underway.