5 Russians Suspected Of Arson Attack On Helicopter Arrested

A Ka-32 helicopter at a defense-industry exhibition in Yekaterinburg. (file photo)

A Moscow court on April 30 ordered pretrial detention of at least two months for five young people suspected of an arson attack on a Ka-32 helicopter in the Russian capital's outskirts. Anastasia Molchalina, Stanislav Khamidulin, Nikita Bulgakov, Roman Yakovets, and Daniil Yamskov were charged with terrorism and face up to 20 years in prison each if found guilty. Investigators say the group's leader, Khamidulin, was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence. It is unknown how the suspects pleaded. On April 26, Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) issued a video on YouTube showing what it said was the arson attack. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.