Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said Tuesday.
Quick Read
- Ukraine thwarts assassination attempt on President Zelenskyy: Ukrainian counterintelligence has disrupted a Russian plot aimed at assassinating President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other high-ranking officials, orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service.
- Details of the foiled plot: The plan involved two colonels from the State Guard of Ukraine, who were detained on charges of treason for their roles in the conspiracy, initially recruited before Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Operational specifics: The assassination strategy included taking Zelenskyy hostage and targeting him and other senior officials with a rocket attack, further supported by drones and missiles, as part of a broader scheme to destabilize Ukrainian leadership.
- Ongoing threats and security concerns: This incident adds to multiple reported attempts on President Zelenskyy’s life since the onset of the conflict with Russia, highlighting persistent security challenges amid the ongoing war.
The Associated Press has the story:
Ukraine says it foiled a Russian spy agency plot to assassinate President Zelenskyy
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) —
Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said Tuesday.
Two colonels in the State Guard of Ukraine, which protects top officials, were detained on suspicion of enacting the plan drawn up by Russia’s Federal Security Service, a statement said. The colonels were recruited before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the statement.
It quoted the head of the State Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, as saying the plot foresaw an attack ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a fifth term Tuesday. Maliuk said he personally oversaw the top-secret operation to track the plot.
Ukrainian claims of Russian efforts to kill Zelenskyy are not new. Zelensky said in 2022 there has been at least 10 attempts to assassinate him as the war with Russia stretches into a third year.
Also, prosecutors in Poland said last month a Polish man had been arrested on allegations of being ready to spy on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence in an alleged plot to assassinate Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian statement said the Russian intelligence agents targeting Zelenskyy sought out members of the Ukrainian military close to the president’s security detail who could take the head of state hostage and later kill him. The operation was run from Moscow, it said, providing the names of three alleged Russian spies behind the conspiracy.
The broader plan was to identify the location of senior Ukrainian officials and target them with a rocket attack, followed by drones and missiles.
The two Ukrainian colonels were arrested on suspicion of treason, which carries a life sentence, the statement said.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.