Ukrainian national gets 16-year sentence for sending mail bombs to Russian colonels, reportedly on instructions from Kyiv

A military court in Russia has sentenced a Ukrainian national to 16 years in prison for sending mail bombs to three Russian colonels, allegedly on orders from Ukraine’s Security Service. Vadym Chalyi, 30, was convicted of attempted terrorism and possession of explosives.

According to prosecutors, the Kyiv native connected with Ukrainian state agents while searching for work on the Russian classifieds website Avito. After completing several test assignments, Chalyi was reportedly instructed to send packages containing 900 grams of explosives to three Russian colonels. He was promised 1,000 rubles for each of the first two deliveries and 4,000 rubles for the third (a total of roughly $70). None of the three packages ultimately detonated.

According to journalists at Mediazona, one of the intended recipients said he received the package disguised as a gift from colleagues, but he moved it to the balcony after hearing what sounded like a phone inside and waited for the bomb squad.

During the trial, Chalyi pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, but the judge reportedly rejected his apology as insincere.