Arrest of a Yalta Resident Linked to Terrorist Attack on Russian Officer
A 47-year-old man from Yalta has been arrested in connection with a terrorist attack that resulted in the death of a Russian naval officer. The incident occurred on November 13, when an explosive device detonated in a car driven by Captain 1st Rank Valery Trankovsky, the First Deputy Commander of the Azov Naval Region of the Black Sea Fleet. The officer sustained serious injuries and succumbed before medical assistance could arrive.
The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case regarding the attack, which they classify as terrorism and illegal trafficking of explosives. Reports indicate that the attack was orchestrated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), with the arrested man allegedly acting on their orders alongside an accomplice.
The investigation revealed that a 38-year-old woman had been surveilling Trankovsky, providing crucial information about his movements and routines to her handlers. She claimed to have traveled to Sevastopol as a tourist, but her actions were part of a larger plan to target the officer. During her interrogation, she admitted to monitoring the officer's vehicle and relaying information to her superiors.
The main suspect, identified as V.K., is said to have constructed the improvised explosive device (IED) using components supplied by Ukrainian operatives. He reportedly placed the device under the officer's car and detonated it remotely as Trankovsky was driving. Following a search of his garage, authorities uncovered another IED ready for use, indicating a serious threat to security in the region.
Both suspects have been placed in pretrial detention as investigations continue, with the Russian FSB identifying Colonel Yuriy Murilyov of the SBU as the mastermind behind the attack.
Background of the Suspect
V.K. was born in Lviv, Ukraine, and has lived in Crimea for over 15 years. He graduated from the Ivan Franko National University and has a background in various jobs, including business ventures in cleaning products and handmade soap. His wife, Natalia, previously worked as a fitness trainer in Yalta. The couple moved to Crimea after marrying in 2008 and have a son together.
In recent years, V.K. transitioned from labor work to entrepreneurship, establishing himself in the local market. His business endeavors included offering managerial services and selling cosmetic products. Despite his seemingly ordinary life, V.K.'s recruitment by the SBU highlights the complexities of the ongoing conflict in the region, where personal histories can intertwine with larger geopolitical tensions.
