A Russian plot to kidnap and assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and different high Ukrainian officers has been uncovered by the nation’s state safety service (SBU).
The SBU claimed two brokers who have been posing as Ukrainian state guard servicemen have been tasked by Moscow to kidnap Mr Zelenskyy and later kill him.
In addition they deliberate to kill different high-ranking Ukrainian political and army officers, the SBU stated in an announcement on Telegram.
These included Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s army intelligence company, the GUR, earlier than Easter, in addition to Vasyl Malyuk, the pinnacle of the SBU.
Mr Malyuk, stated the plot was presupposed to be a “present to Putin earlier than the inauguration” however was “truly a failure of the Russian secret service”.
“However we should not overlook that the enemy is robust and skilled, and can’t be underestimated. We’ll proceed to work proactively to make sure that each traitor receives a well-deserved courtroom sentence,” Mr Malyuk stated.
The top of the SBU additionally stated he “personally managed” the investigation into the 2 brokers, which “progressively” constructed up proof in opposition to them.
The SBU stated the 2 suspects have been a part of a community working for the FSB, Russia’s safety service, and had additionally leaked labeled info.
One of many alleged brokers being detained in photos launched by the SBU. Pic: Telegram/SBU
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“The enemy’s plan was as follows: first, a recruited agent was supposed to watch the motion of a protected individual and move info to the enemy,” an SBU assertion stated.
“The coordinates of the home the place the official was presupposed to be have been for use to launch a missile strike. Then they have been going to assault the individuals who remained on the website of the assault with a drone.
“After that, the Russians deliberate to hit with one other missile, together with to destroy the traces of the drone.”
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The 2 brokers have been detained and face life imprisonment.
Mr Zelenskyy has been topic to a number of different threats on his life.
He stated in 2022 that there had been at the least 10 makes an attempt to assassinate him for the reason that begin of the battle.