In Mykolaiv region, two teenagers set a police car on fire for money and filmed the act, according to the National Police.

In the village of Yelanets in Mykolaiv region, two teenagers set fire to a police service vehicle for money that an unknown individual promised them via messenger. After sending a video report, the contractor deleted their conversations. Now, instead of the promised reward, the young men face up to 10 years in prison.

As reported by the police press center to Informator, the incident occurred last night, on November 29. The event took place in a parking lot near the administrative building. The vehicle was doused with flammable liquid and set ablaze. The police quickly discovered the fire and extinguished it, resulting in only minor damage to the vehicle.

The perpetrators recorded the arson as proof of task completion, but after sending it, the "curator" deleted the conversations and did not pay the promised monetary reward. According to the National Police, such videos are used by Russian propagandists to discredit Ukraine's security forces, particularly the National Police.

Within an hour, the arsonists were identified. They turned out to be local students who received an arson proposal through one of the messengers. The teenagers purchased fuel, planned the arson, and committed the crime.

During the searches, the police seized a bottle of flammable liquid, phones, and other evidence. The arsonists were detained and notified of suspicion under part 2 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional destruction or damage to property). They face up to 10 years of imprisonment.

The investigation of the incident is being conducted by investigators from the regional police department in collaboration with criminal investigation operatives, criminal analysis specialists, and the Voznesensk District Prosecutor's Office. Pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Arson of Vehicles in Ukraine

Crimes involving Russian special services increasingly involve underage Ukrainians. They are recruited through social media, often coming from other cities and regions to the capital. Moreover, the arson of vehicles belonging to the Armed Forces and police occurs not only in the capital. For instance, in Odesa, during June - July 2024, six local residents set fire to fifteen vehicles of the Armed Forces. Russian special services promised them generous payments, but in reality, the traitors received up to eight thousand hryvnias for setting fire to a vehicle. The court placed all six in custody.

We also reported how the police in Lviv detained two men suspected of setting fire to vehicles. They deliberately tracked military vehicles. They did this for Russian money, according to the police. Additionally, the perpetrators created content for propagandists to create a misleading narrative that people in Lviv were retaliating against the military.

It is worth noting that information about Russia recruiting Ukrainians to set fire to vehicles of the Armed Forces emerged back in June. The first incidents occurred in Dnipro and Odesa. According to law enforcement, since the beginning of 2024, Russian special services have actively involved teenagers aged 13 and older in setting fire to vehicles of the Armed Forces through social media. This scheme, according to law enforcement, is part of a broader destabilization strategy that involves using young people to commit crimes that undermine security and stability in Ukraine.