A Nalchik resident was convicted of attempting to blow up a train station.

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Vitaly Gaivoronsky, a resident of Kabardino-Balkaria, guilty of an attempted terrorist attack at the Nalchik train station and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in December 2023, security forces announced they had prevented a terrorist attack in Nalchik. They detained 42-year-old Vitaly Gaivoronsky, a native of the Luhansk region. According to law enforcement, two IEDs were found at his home, which he planned to detonate at the Nalchik train station. In September 2024, the criminal case was transferred for trial to the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don.

According to the court, in 2023, a Ukrainian Security Service officer contacted Gaivoronsky and persuaded him to cooperate with a foreign intelligence agency. In December 2023, Gaivoronsky retrieved an explosive device from a hiding place, also purchased components for an improvised explosive device, and hid them in a garage in Nalchik. He reported this to an SBU representative to determine the date of the terrorist attack. The defendant did not complete his criminal plan, as he was detained on December 13, 2023, RIA Novosti reported today, citing the court's press service.

The criminal case was opened under articles on high treason , preparation for a terrorist attack , and storage and manufacture of explosives and explosive devices.

"In accordance with the court's verdict, the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony, with the first five years to be served in prison, with a fine of "250,000 rubles," the report stated.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in August 2025, a military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 37-year-old Yuri Boyko, a resident of Prokhladny in Kabardino-Balkaria, to 17 years in prison for attempted treason and participation in a terrorist organization.