An explosion occurred in the early hours of February 18 at the Kolomyia District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region. The incident, reported by the regional prosecutor’s office, took place at approximately 1:15 AM, resulting in shattered windows in several rooms, although no injuries were reported.
The prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal investigation under Article 258, Part 2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which addresses terrorist acts committed by a group of individuals in collusion.
Authorities are currently working to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the cause of the explosion and any individuals who may be involved. This event is part of a broader pattern of attacks targeting military recruitment centers in Ukraine.
Vitaliy Sarantsev, head of communications for the Ukrainian Ground Forces, has suggested that these attacks on recruitment center personnel and arson incidents at military enlistment offices are orchestrated by Russian intelligence services aiming to disrupt mobilization efforts in Ukraine. He made these comments during an interview with Radio Donbas Realities, a project of Radio Free Europe.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has frequently reported the apprehension of Russian agents and the prevention of terrorist acts allegedly planned by Russian intelligence operatives, particularly targeting military and civilian facilities.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, a state of martial law has been declared, alongside a general mobilization. The Ukrainian Parliament has extended the duration of martial law and mobilization every three months since then.
An explosion at a military recruitment center in Kolomyia has prompted an investigation into potential terrorist activity. Authorities are examining the incident's causes and possible connections to ongoing attacks on military facilities in Ukraine.