Russia’s domestic intelligence service FSB reported Monday that it found explosive materials and electric detonators for possible terrorist attacks in packages originating from Germany and Italy in St. Petersburg.

A released video from the FSB shows explosives experts removing parts hidden inside shock absorbers from a German manufacturer.

The FSB said it had disrupted a channel for spare car parts through a shipping company that had transported the packages to Russia.

The agency said several arrests had been made, but did not provide details.

However, the recordings and information provided by the FSB could not be independently verified.

According to the FSB, Ukraine had directed the suspects under investigation and in particular the deputy head of the presidential office in Kiev, Roman Mashovets, was accused of attempting to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia.

Mashovets, according to his official government biography, is an expert in military intelligence. Since July 2014, he has organized technical assistance for the Ukrainian army.

He was also one of the founders of the Ukrainian special operations units and since 2020 has been the deputy head of the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, sabotage attacks on the Russian railway network have been carried out to disrupt the supply of Russian troops to Ukraine.

Prominent Russian pro-war supporters and Ukrainian defectors have also been targeted.

In many cases, the involvement of the Ukrainian secret service is obvious and the services have also disclosed knowledge of some of the actions.

However, the FSB’s regular claims about alleged disclosed Ukrainian plans or actions cannot be verified.

Although there was video and other evidence, they often appear to be staged.

The FSB said Monday it has notified European intelligence services and asked for help in identifying the masterminds behind acts of terror and sabotage in Russia.

To date, these requests have not been responded to.

dpa/NAN