Intelligence warned of possible terrorist attacks on the TOT during the State Duma “elections”

Russian intelligence services may organize high-profile provocations and terrorist attacks in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine during the illegitimate elections to the Russian State Duma. Moscow may then attempt to blame Ukraine for the attacks.

The Foreign Intelligence Service announced this.

According to intelligence, such scenarios could be realized during active voting on September 18–20 in the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, as well as in annexed Crimea.

The SZRU noted that the purpose of these possible provocations is to justify repression against the local population, prepare for a new wave of mobilization in Russia, and destabilize peace efforts, including those with US participation.

Possible scenarios, according to intelligence, include bombing polling stations or ballot collection points outside of working hours, sabotage of transport infrastructure, and assassination attempts on collaborators.

The SZRU recalled that the Kremlin has previously used high-profile provocations during political and other events of importance to the Russian authorities. Specifically, the intelligence service cited the apartment building bombings in Russia in 1999, the hostage taking at the Dubrovka Theater in 2002, and provocations in the occupied territories of Ukraine from 2014 to 2024.

“Russian intelligence agencies do not take civilian casualties into account if it suits their current political objectives,” the agency emphasized.

Intelligence also urged that any gatherings of people in the temporarily occupied territories during these days could become targets for provocations and subsequent use in Kremlin propaganda.