Since the beginning of 2024, Yuriy Syzov has been in charge of a sabotage network in Ukraine. The goal of his group was to destroy military plants and strategic infrastructure. He also planned terrorist attacks in Kyiv. One of the agents in his Ukrainian network was Yehveniy Ivanov – responsible for the explosion on the railway line in Poland.
On Wednesday, we were the first to reveal the name of the Russian agent Yehveniy Ivanov. Other outlets reported that the second saboteur is Oleksandr Kononov. It can be assumed that Ivanov was the one directing the operation on Polish territory. He previously had extensive experience in sabotage operations in Ukraine.
Yuriy Syzov – GRU Officer
Ivanov’s handler in Ukraine was Yuriy Syzov, an officer of Russian military intelligence. Ukrainian government websites contain an indictment against him. He has been charged with terrorism, sabotage, leading a criminal group, and illegal border crossing.
Yuriy Syzov was born on February 17, 1988, in Saint Petersburg. His official position is senior specialist in the Department of Special Operations within the Directorate of Special Operations of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
According to the indictment, Syzov’s responsibilities as a representative of the Russian Federation’s special services included conducting intelligence and sabotage activities against Ukraine. He recruited Ukrainian citizens for confidential cooperation, intending to use them for actions harmful to Ukraine.
Syzov recruited Ukrainian citizen Yehveniy Ivanov, who was tasked with finding and building a network of agents among residents of Ukrainian territory.
Ivanov transferred funds he received from Syzov to Ukraine for the direct executors of tasks, and he also ensured transport of the tools and materials used to commit the crimes.
Ivanov recruited Lviv resident Yehven Borysenko, a former employee of “NWP Athlon Avia,” a company producing combat drones.
Borysenko, after being fired from the company, agreed—lured by a promised payment of USD 40,000—to carry out an explosion on the plant’s premises. Security services discovered and neutralized the explosive devices at the facility beforehand. Borysenko was detained and later—cooperating with investigators—helped expose his Russian handlers.
Syzov Planned Terrorist Attacks
In April 2024, Syzov planned terrorist attacks in Kyiv. He again involved Ivanov, followed by Borysenko (now cooperating with the security services) and Dmytro Bilokon. The targets were explosions at the “Leroy Merlin” shopping centers in Kyiv and near the “Ofenziva” café. Syzov arranged for Borysenko to receive (via an unwitting courier, Dechteruk) 15 explosive devices hidden in tea packages.
All the charges were programmed to detonate at 4:00 a.m. on May 10, 2024. The criminal activity was halted the day before, when Bilokon was arrested at the crime scene. The indictment states that the crime was not completed for reasons beyond the control of the perpetrator (Syzov).
Railway Sabotage
On Saturday evening, a track on the Warsaw–Lublin line was destroyed following the detonation of an explosive device. Telewizja Republika was the first to report the sabotage attack. Near the damaged section of the tracks in the village of Mika near Garwolin (Masovian Voivodeship), officers found a camera as well as a second explosive device that failed to detonate.