{"id":293549,"date":"2024-05-08T01:21:54","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T22:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=293549"},"modified":"2024-05-08T10:46:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T07:46:17","slug":"804","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/804","title":{"rendered":"Day 804: Ukraine\u2019s Security Service arrests two Ukrainian colonels involved in Russian plot to assassinate Zelenskyi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ukraine\u2019s Security Service arrests two Ukrainian colonels involved in a Russian plot to assassinate Zelenskyi. Russia advances in four regions, ISW says. Putin sworn into his fifth term as Russia\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s Security Service arrests two Ukrainian colonels involved in Russian plot to assassinate Zelenskyi<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s Security Service said it had exposed a network of agents from the 5th<\/sup> Service of Russia\u2019s Federal Security Service (FSB) who were preparing the assassination of President Zelenskyi and other senior Ukrainian officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s Security Service said it had foiled the plot with the help of the leadership of the Department of State Security, which protects top officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FSB coordinated the network from Moscow. Ukraine\u2019s Security Service arrested two colonels of the Department of State Security of Ukraine who were part of the network. They were sending secret information to Russia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the tasks of the FSB intelligence network was to search for perpetrators among the military close to the protection of the President, who could take the Head of State hostage and later kill him,\u201d Ukraine\u2019s Security Service said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other top Ukrainian officials targeted in the plot included Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, the head of Ukraine\u2019s Security Service, and Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine\u2019s military intelligence agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the assassination attempt aimed at Budanov, the agency said it was planned to take place before Orthodox Easter, which was celebrated on May 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s Security Service described Russia\u2019s plan: \u201cFirst, the recruited agent had to observe the movement of the person under guard and pass information to the Russians. According to the coordinates of the house where the official was supposed to be, a rocket attack was planned. Then they were going to attack the people who remained at the affected area with a drone. After that, the Russians planned to target [the site] with another missile, including to destroy traces of the use of the drone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A colonel from the Department of State Security brought weapons for the agent to Kyiv that included FPV drones, charges for RPG-7 hand-held grenade launchers, and MON-90 antipersonnel mines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel traveled to another part of Ukraine to bring drones and explosives to Kyiv, Ukraine\u2019s Security Service said. The agency has also recorded conversations between the potential perpetrator of the terrorist act and his FSB \u201ccurator.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA limited circle of people knew about our special operation, and I personally controlled its progress,\u201d head of Ukraine\u2019s Security Service, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk said. \u201cThe attack, which was supposed to be an inauguration gift for Putin, was in fact a failure of the Russian intelligence service. But we must not forget \u2014 the enemy is strong and experienced, they cannot be underestimated. We will continue to work proactively so that every traitor receives the justice they deserve,\u201d Malyuk added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine\u2019s Security Service identified members of FSB\u2019s 9th Directorate of the Department of Operational Information of the 5th Service \u2014 Maksim Mishustin, Dmitriy Perlin and Aleksey Kornev as running the operation from Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n