According to Ukrinform, the SBU press center said this in a statement.

The investigation established that the suspects are citizens of a Middle Eastern country who came to the attention of Russian intelligence operatives through social media, where they were looking for "easy" ways to make money.

In exchange for a promised financial reward, the foreigners agreed to set fire to an electrical substation supplying part of Chernivtsi's critical and social infrastructure.

"To carry out the enemy's assignment, the suspects arrived in the regional capital in early August and conducted reconnaissance around the energy facility to identify places where they could secretly enter the premises. They subsequently doused the transformers and the surrounding area with gasoline, set them on fire and fled," the Ukrainian security service said.

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SBU officers identified the arsonists "hot on the trail" and detained them in Chernivtsi within 24 hours.

SBU investigators have notified both foreigners that they are suspected of violating Part 2 of Article 15, Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 113 of Ukraine's Criminal Code – an attempted act of sabotage committed by a group of people acting in prior conspiracy under martial law.

The suspects are being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.