Conflict & Security
Swedish man arrested in Russia over sabotage plot, FSB says
Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday it had arrested an unnamed Swedish man in the northwestern Pskov region over an alleged plan to carry out sabotage and terrorism attacks on military infrastructure.
The FSB said the man had fought for Ukraine, illegally crossed into Russia from a neighbouring state and was detained in the Sebezh area, near the borders of Lithuania and Belarus.
The agency alleged that documents showed the man had taken part in combat against Russia within the Ukrainian army.
"Under the pretence of joining the Russian armed forces, he travelled to the Russian Federation with the intention of carrying out acts of sabotage and terrorism on military facilities," the FSB said.
The FSB said a criminal case had been opened against the man on charges of illegally crossing the border, organising terrorist activities and being a mercenary.
The allegations have not been independently verified in the supplied information.
Update
The FSB said the man was detained in the Sebezh area of the Pskov region, near the borders of Lithuania and Belarus.
The FSB alleged that documents showed the man had taken part in combat against Russia within the Ukrainian army.
The FSB said a criminal case was opened on charges of illegal border crossing, organising terrorist activities and being a mercenary.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 October 2026 at 07:54:41 UTC.
Update
Russian state news agencies quoted the FSB as saying the unnamed Swedish man was arrested in the northwestern Pskov region near the Lithuanian border.
The FSB said the man had fought for Ukraine and had illegally crossed into Russia.
The FSB alleged he travelled to Russia under the pretext of joining the Russian armed forces to carry out sabotage and terrorism on military facilities.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 October 2026 at 07:23:14 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The man was not named in the supplied information.
The FSB allegations have not been independently verified in the supplied information.
The neighbouring state from which the FSB says the man crossed into Russia was not identified.
Source
AFP news report published on .