Two defendants have been arrested in connection with the preparation of a terrorist attack in Tuapse.

An 18-year-old and 17-year-old Kuban resident accused of plotting an explosion in an administrative building in Tuapse have been taken into custody.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on March 25, the Kuban FSB reported the arrest of a 21-year-old local resident accused of plotting a terrorist attack at the Novorossiysk University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Investigative Committee announced the arrest of two Kuban residents, including a minor, on its website today. The case was opened based on materials from the Federal Security Service (FSB).

"Two local residents, one of whom is a minor, have been charged with preparing a terrorist act committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy (Part 1 of Article 30, Subparagraph "a" of Part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation)," the publication states.

According to investigators, in March 2026, an 18-year-old resident of Kuban entered into correspondence with a member of a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

"The supervisor offered him, for a monetary reward of 300 to 500 US dollars, to manufacture an improvised explosive device and transfer it by secret drop for the purpose of further committing a terrorist act. "An act in the city of Tuapse. Having agreed to the proposal, the suspect recruited a 17-year-old acquaintance to commit the crime," the report states.

Then, according to investigators, the young men took photos and video recordings of the selected target, the location of cameras "and other security elements," and handed the materials over to the client.

Made the main charge of the explosive device and prepared the components

"The supervisor, having approved the target, confirmed the intention to commit a terrorist act and transferred $30 to the cryptocurrency wallet of one of the suspects as payment, stating that he would transfer the remaining amount after the IED was manufactured and planted. After this, the 18-year-old suspect, in accordance with his assigned criminal role, manufactured the main charge of the explosive device and prepared the components with which the supervisor was to blow up the administrative building with a large number of people," the Investigative Committee stated.

On During interrogation, the accused admitted their guilt and, at the request of the investigation, they were remanded in custody, the statement noted.

As a reminder, Kuban's sabotage convictions have become a model for courts in other regions. Thus, in April 2025, the appellate court doubled the sentences of teenagers from Novosibirsk in a case of sabotage on a railway, so that the final sentences would be consistent with those handed down in Kuban for similar cases.

The teenagers sought a lenient sentence, and a prosecutor's office representative demanded that the sentences be equal to the average sentences handed down by courts in other regions for similar cases—11 years in prison. The teenagers' parents are convinced that the case is fabricated.