Yep, can't believe those genius Ukrainian security services never stopped to think that instructing them to make their way directly to the Ukraine over a distance of 500 kilometers and then trying to cross a border into a war zone which had literally just been subject to anti poots Russian insurgency (i.e. the Russian military was already on high alert).... might not be a good idea.
Particularly when if they headed in the direction of Kazan to the south east, they wouldn't have stuck out like sore thumbs given that the area has less than 50% ethnic Russians, with a significant populations Tatars, Chuvash, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Azerbaijanis and Mari.
Get past there and they were essentially home free.
But no, they all jumped in one car (basic terrorist 101 no no) and hooked it down the E101 at high speed, all for $5,000 each from the Ukraine .............................. allegedly.
Actually amazed they made it as far as Bryansk....... almost seems too good to believe.
