The charges against Vladlen Menshikov in connection with a sabotage attempt in the Sverdlovsk region have been intensified as the case progressed. According to a report from TASS, the Sverdlovsk District Court is currently handling the matter, and new details have emerged as the proceedings advance.
At the heart of the current allegations is a claim of attempted sabotage. Menshikov is now accused of conspiring with a foreign state, publicly endorsing or encouraging terrorist activity, and engaging in actions that authorities describe as intended to disrupt critical infrastructure.
Earlier statements from former colleagues of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) indicate that security personnel acted decisively to prevent sabotage on a section of the Sverdlovsk railway near Nizhnevartovsk. The recollections of those involved underscore the seriousness with which law enforcement approaches potential threats to transportation networks.
According to the FSB, investigators detained a local resident in the act, catching him red-handed as part of the ongoing inquiry. The incident has become a focal point in a broader case that regulators describe as a coordinated attempt to undermine public safety and rail traffic, raising heightened concerns about security on regional routes.
The criminal case is cited under Part 3 of Article 30, related to planning or attempting criminal activity, alongside Article 281 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which specifies penalties for attempted sabotage. The legal framework signals the seriousness with which authorities treat acts designed to damage railway infrastructure and threaten civilian life.
Separately, authorities announced the detention of an agent linked to the Security Service of Ukraine on suspicions tied to two sabotage operations on the Moscow Railway. A Ukrainian citizen born in 1977 was taken into custody as part of cross-border investigations that emphasize the international dimension some security cases can take. This information is presented as part of the wider narrative regarding threats to critical transport corridors and the ongoing struggle against acts of violence that transcend national borders.
Officials have reiterated that investigations are ongoing and that additional charges or suspects could emerge as the case unfolds. In such matters, authorities typically emphasize the importance of meticulous evidence gathering, cross-agency coordination, and transparent judicial processes to ensure public confidence and safety on key transport routes. The broader public interest centers on maintaining the reliability of rail services and safeguarding the communities that rely on them. Given the sensitive nature of intelligence work, updates may be limited or staged as verified facts become available and formal indictments are issued. Attribution for these statements is provided to the relevant regional courts and security agencies as the case develops.