Kathrine Frich
The FSB accused the pensioners of being “zombified” by Ukrainian handlers.
The FSB accused the pensioners of being “zombified” by Ukrainian handlers.
FSB Claims Elderly Women Recruited as ‘Human Bombs’
Russia’s FSB counterintelligence service alleges that Ukrainian agents recruited elderly Russian women, including one aged 87, as suicide bombers.
According to Daily Star officials claim the women were targeted online through “fraudulent schemes and psychological pressure.”
The women were allegedly told they could recover stolen savings by transporting explosives to Russian military officers.
‘Zombie Grannies’ Narrative Hits Russian Media
The FSB accused the pensioners of being “zombified” by Ukrainian handlers.
State TV expanded on one case, saying an 87-year-old’s bag held “not a loaf of bread and a bottle of kefir… but a high-powered homemade explosive device.”
The report claimed the plan involved the woman crossing paths with a Russian officer before remote detonation.
Explosives Hidden in Everyday Items
According to the FSB, five similar cases were uncovered involving recruitment via WhatsApp and Telegram.
They say one bomb was concealed inside a chess set destined for a soldier.
The “terrified pensioners” allegedly agreed to act as couriers, unaware they were carrying explosives.
Charges Under Terrorism Laws
Russian authorities say the women now face prosecution under terrorism and explosives transportation laws.
If convicted, they could receive lengthy prison sentences despite claims they were misled.
The allegations have stirred debate about coercion and culpability.
Ukrainian Sources Cry ‘FSB Stunt’
Some Ukrainian sources allege the scheme was orchestrated by the FSB itself.
The Pravda Gerashchenko channel called it “a spectacle… full of videos, confessions, colourful games, and not a single injury.”
They likened it to other Russian security operations they consider staged propaganda.
Past Attacks Cited by FSB
The agency insists such plots are not new.
They claim similar suicide bombings have taken place in Moscow, Stavropol, and Luhansk.
In those incidents, both high-ranking officials and the attackers killed according to their reports.
