Kyiv, Ukraine — Shocking news emerged from Ukraine as Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators successfully thwarted a sinister plot orchestrated by Russian operatives to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other prominent military and political figures. The State Security Service of Ukraine revealed on Tuesday that two colonels from the State Guard of Ukraine, responsible for protecting high-ranking officials, were apprehended on suspicion of carrying out the elaborate scheme devised by Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB.
The detained colonels were reportedly recruited prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as outlined in the official statement released by the Ukrainian authorities.
Head of the State Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, disclosed that the assassination plot was designed to unfold before Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming inauguration for a fifth term. Maliuk personally supervised the clandestine operation aimed at intercepting and neutralizing the imminent threat.
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While Ukrainian accusations of Russian attempts on Zelenskyy's life are not unprecedented, the severity of the recent revelation has sent shockwaves across the region. President Zelenskyy had previously revealed that there had been multiple assassination attempts on his life in 2022, as the conflict with Russia continues to escalate into its third year.
Adding to the alarming developments, prosecutors in Poland divulged last month that a Polish national had been apprehended under suspicion of espionage activities on behalf of Russia's military intelligence, allegedly linked to a plot to eliminate President Zelenskyy.
Due to security reasons, Zelenskyy's movements are shrouded in secrecy, with his visits around the country only being announced to the public after he has already departed. Events held by Zelenskyy in Kyiv are typically kept under embargo until they have concluded.
Zelenskyy has emerged as a crucial figure for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with its larger neighbor, with Kyiv's forces in need of reinforcements and weaponry. He continues to encourage his people to persevere in the fight, fostering a belief in Ukraine's ability to overcome the challenges.
According to a Ukrainian statement, Russian intelligence operatives targeted Zelenskyy with a plot to capture him through members of the Ukrainian military close to his security team, with the intention of later assassinating him. The operation, orchestrated from Moscow, allegedly involved three Russian spies identified in the statement.
The overarching scheme included pinpointing the whereabouts of senior Ukrainian officials for targeted rocket attacks, followed by drone and missile strikes.
Two Ukrainian colonels have been apprehended on suspicion of treason, a charge that carries a potential life sentence, as detailed in the statement.
