Overview
- Russian security services say a Russian citizen in the Rostov region contacted authorities after being recruited by Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, and the FSB then ran a controlled operation that located and deactivated the drones, investigators say.
- The FSB described the plot as using a 13‑drone FPV swarm with onboard AI and automatic terminal guidance, with each drone carrying more than one kilogram of explosives and color markings for designated target squares.
- Authorities report the suspect received a 20% advance payment before contact with the foreign handler stopped and say efforts to identify all participants and groups involved are continuing.
- An unmanned‑aircraft expert quoted by TASS alleged direct US and NATO technical and organizational support for such attacks, but that attribution is reported by Russian sources and is not independently verified in the coverage.
- The announcement underscores the growing role of small, AI‑guided drones in strike and sabotage tactics and signals likely tighter local security measures and ongoing information operations by Russian state agencies.