82 arson attacks took place in 2024 in the Odesa region, most of them ordered by Russia

A burnt-out Volkswagen Caddy, Mykolaiv, June 2024. Photo NikVesti provided by readers

In 2024, 352 military vehicles were set on fire in Ukraine, with most of the crimes being linked to orders from Russian special services. In addition to vehicles, shopping centres, police stations and infrastructure facilities were also set on fire. Odesa region is among the leaders in terms of the number of such incidents — 82.

According to Andrii Nebytov, deputy head of the National Police and head of the criminal police, 84 arsons were set in Kyiv last year, and 71 in Kharkiv region.

Last year, 149 arson attacks on railway relay cabinets were recorded, as well as 57 sabotage and terrorist acts on the territory of shopping centres, post offices and police stations.

In total, law enforcement officers together with the SSU detained 288 people involved in the incidents. Among them are 211 men, 12 women and 65 minors.

Infographic of arson attacks in Ukraine in 2024. Illustration: National Police

To recap, in Mykolaiv, police detained an 18-year-old man suspected of setting fire to a court building. He was carrying out «orders from the curator», and now he faces up to 10 years in prison.