The operation was carried out jointly by officers from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Russian Investigative Committee.

According to Russian authorities, the first suspect was arrested near a law enforcement building in the city of Pyatigorsk.

"A Russian citizen born in 2006 was detained as she approached a building belonging to a law enforcement agency in Pyatigorsk. The backpack she was carrying was found to contain an improvised explosive device with a yield of approximately two kilograms in TNT equivalent," the FSB statement read.

Investigators said a second woman was detained shortly afterwards during the same operation.

The agency added that soon after the first suspect was apprehended, its officers identified and detained another Russian woman who "on the instructions from Ukrainian handlers, had intended to deliver a similar device to the site" while the investigative and operational team was working there.

Russian authorities described the case as an alleged Ukraine-backed attack targeting law enforcement personnel.

Footage released by officials showed the suspects being detained and explosive devices being destroyed in controlled detonations.

According to investigators, both women acted independently and claimed they did not know the bags they were transporting contained explosive devices.

The detainees now face several criminal charges, including terrorism, illegal transportation of ammunition and illegal manufacture of explosive devices.