Home / Crime and Justice / FSB Arrests 8 in Bashkiria for Attempted Telecom Sabotage
FSB Arrests 8 in Bashkiria for Attempted Telecom Sabotage
10 Nov
Summary
- FSB detained 8 residents of Bashkiria for planning sabotage attacks
- Suspects aimed to set fire to cell towers and damage fiber-optic cables
- Attacks were coordinated via Telegram messaging app
According to a statement from the Federal Security Service (FSB) on November 10, 2025, authorities have detained 8 residents of the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia for attempting to carry out acts of sabotage against the region's telecommunications infrastructure.
The FSB reports that a native of Salavat had been in correspondence on the Telegram messaging app with an individual who suggested setting fire to cell towers and damaging the fiber-optic cables used for data transmission. The "customer" had identified the locations of the targeted facilities and required video evidence of the sabotage to confirm the tasks were completed.
To carry out these attacks, the initial suspect recruited 6 of his close friends as accomplices. However, the entire criminal group was apprehended by the FSB while in the process of attempting to execute the planned sabotage.
A criminal case has now been opened against the 8 detainees on charges of attempted sabotage. The FSB's actions have successfully thwarted this plot to disrupt critical telecommunications services in the Bashkir region.
