Two Ukrainian officials have been arrested, accused by Kyiv of planning to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Specifically, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) stated that it “dismantled a network of agents” of the Russian security services (FSB), who “were preparing the assassination of the Ukrainian president,” this source said in a press release.
Other “high-ranking members” of the armed forces and political figures were targeted, including the head of the army’s intelligence services, Kyrylo Budanov, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The arrested individuals are “two colonels” of the Ukrainian state service responsible for the security of public officials, it was clarified.
This network was “monitored” by the FSB, and both officers “transferred confidential information” to Russia, according to the SBU.
Among other things, they wanted to recruit military personnel “affiliated with the president’s security service” in order to “take him hostage and kill him,” according to Ukrainian authorities.
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One member of this network acquired drones and explosives, as the SBU states.
“The terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin for his inauguration, represents a failure of the Russian special services,” said SBU head Vasyl Maliukh, according to a post by the agency on Telegram.
Ukraine has repeatedly denounced assassination attempts against its president and other senior officials.
In April, a man suspected of assisting Russian intelligence services in preparing an attack against Volodymyr Zelensky was arrested in Poland, according to Polish and Ukrainian prosecutors.
