A Moscow regional court has placed under arrest 19-year-old Matvey Melnikov and 18-year-old Yuri Mikheev, who are suspected of plotting sabotage at a military facility in the Moscow region. The court’s decision followed reports from investigators about the alleged activities of the suspects. (Source: local court communications, translated for public briefing.)
Investigators say the defendants intended to ignite a storage and repair base that houses anti-aircraft equipment in the Dmitrovsky district. Their alleged process began with a preliminary inspection of the perimeter, where they reportedly assessed the security layout and access points. Days later, they returned to the same military site armed with Molotov cocktails, but law enforcement officers monitoring the area intervened before any action could be taken. The detentions were carried out by joint efforts of police and the Federal Security Service. (Attribution: regional security authorities.)
In the course of the inquiry, authorities claimed that Mikheev and Melnikov had been recruited by a Ukrainian special service to carry out sabotage against Russian Armed Forces facilities. They face charges that include sabotage and violations related to the security of military infrastructure. During the hearing, prosecutors moved to keep the suspects in detention as a preventive measure, asserting the risk of flight or potential reoffending. If convicted on all counts, the defendants could face a prison term up to two decades. (Source: investigative materials released to the court, with attribution to the filing agencies.)
Meanwhile, the Moscow District Court has also announced it will review a separate criminal case involving a 22-year-old resident of Voronezh. The individual is accused of attempting to join a unit described as the International Territorial Defense Legion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the stated aim of fighting against Russian forces. The proceedings are at an early stage, and the court has noted the need to consider evidence and individual rights before any further actions are taken. (Attribution: court records.)
Earlier developments in the far east region of Sakhalin reported a different legal outcome. A local military court there concluded a case involving a serviceman who refused to participate in mobilization measures and was subsequently sentenced to a penal colony. The decision underscores the authorities’ emphasis on compliance with mobilization and service obligations across the country. (Source: regional court communications, archived for public record.)