The Federal Security Service (FSB) reported preventing a terrorist attack at a humanitarian aid collection point in Samara Oblast. Later, it was revealed that Andrey Zhvakin, a local activist, died in an explosion of a makeshift bomb during his arrest. This information was shared by the Baza Telegram channel on March 26.
The FSB asserted that the terrorist attack was planned by a member of the Russian Volunteer Corps, who had joined sides with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The alleged terrorist detonated a makeshift bomb during his arrest and died.
Subsequently, the Baza Telegram channel reported the death of an activist from Samara Oblast, Andrey Zhvakin. According to the channel, Zhvakin attempted to escape from law enforcement officers. FSB agents allegedly asked him to dispose of the bomb, but 'for some reasons,' it exploded in the activist’s hands.
According to State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein, the deceased man 'acted on instructions from the Russian Volunteer Corps' and was supposed to leave for Ukraine. Khinshtein suggested that the activist was involved in the recent explosion of the railroad bridge over the Chapayevka River. The deputy also claimed that security forces found several explosive devices when they searched Zhvakin’s house.
In a conversation with the SOTA media outlet, the press secretary of the Russian Volunteer Corps, Ilya Bogdanov, denied Zhvakin’s involvement in the organization’s activities.
Andrey Zhvakin supported victims of political repression and participated in anti-war pickets in Samara. In February 2023, he was sentenced to community service following his participation in an authorized protest on the Remembrance Day for Victims of Political Repression. Zhvakin claimed to have experienced physical abuse at the police station.
