Foiled Plot to Assassinate President Zelensky: Ukrainian Officers Arrested

2024-05-07 16:27:35

Image source, Telegram/SBU

Subtitle, Ukraine said two Ukrainian officers working with the Russian security services had been arrested. Article information

• Author, Laura Gozzi
• role, BBC News

• 2 hours

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that it had foiled a joint Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-ranking Ukrainian officials.

Two colonels from the Ukrainian government’s defense unit were arrested.

The SBU said they were part of it agent network belonging to the Russian State Security Service (FSB).

According to the report, they were searching among Zelensky’s bodyguards for “executioners” ready to kidnap and kill him.

Other targets included military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk, the agency added.

According to the report, the group planned to kill Budanov before Orthodox Easter, which this year is celebrated on May 5.

The SBU noted that the conspirators planned to use a spy to gain information about his location, where they would then attack with rockets and drones.

One of the arrested agents I had already bought drones and anti-personnel minesThe SBU said.

Malyuk, the head of the service, said the attack was intended “a gift to Putin before the inauguration”, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was sworn in for a fifth term in the Kremlin this Tuesday, May 7.

Image source, Reuters

Subtitle, Putin has just begun his fifth term as president of Russia.

As a result of the operation the Russian special services failed, Malyuk claimed.

“But we must not forget that the enemy is strong and experienced, cannot be underestimated” he said.

Both officers are Ukrainian arrested on suspicion of treason and preparing a terrorist act.

The SBU said three FSB employees oversaw the organization and the attack.

One of them, named Dmytro Perlin, had been recruiting “moles” since before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Another FSB employee, Oleksiy Kornev, held “conspiratorial” meetings in “neighboring European states” before the invasion of one of the detained Ukrainian colonies on Tuesday.

Russian forces reportedly They have been trying to kill Zelensky since the beginning of the war.

Last month, Pol was arrested and charged with collaborating with Russian intelligence services to aid in the possible assassination of Zelensky.

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