Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Tuesday the arrest of a teenager in the republic of Mordovia, suspected of orchestrating railway arson attacks with the assistance of minors.

According to the FSB, the 18-year-old Russian national, born in 2007, allegedly executed these actions on behalf of Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency in exchange for monetary compensation.

He reportedly enlisted local minors to assist him and provided photographic and video proof, along with GPS coordinates of the targeted arson locations, to his contact in Ukraine.

It has not been possible to independently verify the FSB’s assertions at this time.

A video distributed by state-affiliated media featured the young man, with his face pixelated, confessing to setting fire to railway relays. The footage also showed a hooded individual igniting an outdoor equipment box and pouring a flammable substance over it.

Following this, images appeared of a mobile phone displaying multiple transfers of amounts up to 10,000 rubles (approximately $120) sent from different accounts. The video concludes with the young man being taken to a prison cell.

The FSB reported that a court has ordered the suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, to be held in pre-trial detention on charges of treason and terrorism, which could result in a life sentence.

Additionally, the security agency cautioned that Ukrainian intelligence services are actively utilizing platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp to locate individuals in Russia willing to engage in sabotage activities and cause economic disruptions.