Ukraine says it foiled a Russian spy agency plot to assassinate President Zelenskyy ( apnews.com )

Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said Tuesday.

Two colonels in the State Guard of Ukraine, which protects top officials, were detained on suspicion of enacting the plan drawn up by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, a statement said. The colonels were recruited before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the statement.

It quoted the head of the State Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, as saying the plot foresaw an attack before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a fifth term on Tuesday. Maliuk said that he personally oversaw the top-secret operation to track the plot.

Ukrainian claims of Russian efforts to kill Zelenskyy aren’t new. Zelensky said in 2022 there has been at least 10 attempts to assassinate him, and now the war with Russia has stretched into its third year.

Also, prosecutors in Poland said last month that a Polish man had been arrested on allegations of being ready to spy on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence in an alleged plot to assassinate Zelenskyy.

zephyreks ,

Here's a question: why now? Russia has had many opportunities to off Zelensky and has demonstrated the ability to break through Ukrainian air defences near Zelensky. For most countries, assassinating a head of state is considered a huge faux pas because it opens up the opportunity for yourself to be considered a valid target. Even if nothing else, Putin values self-preservation.

Deadly Russian missile struck close to Zelensky and Greek leader’s convoy

This feels like a purge of people loyal to Zaluzhnyi after his fall from grace in February.

baru ,

Here's a question: why now?

There have been many previous attempts. Why now? It takes time to go for a new plan. They're likely working on a new attempt.

zephyreks ,

Russia has already demonstrated the ability to pierce Ukraine's air defense umbrella not even a kilometer from where Zelensky was. There's no need to do the dirty work of an assassination when Zelensky willingly goes to the front line every few weeks.

Russia has more than enough munitions for local air superiority, even if they can't maintain that across the front line.

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Two colonels in the State Guard of Ukraine, which protects top officials, were detained on suspicion of enacting the plan drawn up by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB

Damn. That's pretty high up the totem pole.

venusaur ,
@venusaur@lemmy.world avatar

Russia trying to assassinate somebody? Never…

billiam0202 ,

Stop sending people to kill me. We've already captured five of them, one of them with a bomb and another with a rifle… If you don't stop sending killers, I'll send one to Moscow, and I won't have to send a second.

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Communism Assassinating Vladimir Putin has never been tried.

Cossty ,

Wait... so they didnt try assassinate Putin yet? What are they waiting for?

Bigmouse ,

That is an original quote from Tito, the dictator of Yugoslavia, directed at Joseph Stalin

gregorum , (edited )
@gregorum@lemm.ee avatar

Ukraine is very good at 2 things: 1) building combat drones out of spare parts and trash and 2) catching Russian assassins. Also, pissing off Russia, which makes #1 and 2 very valuable.

Edit: also a third: attracting Putin trolls 😂
(Thx to the mods for keeping things tidy)

ghostdoggtv ,

Somebody tell zelenskyy all's fair

Empricorn , (edited )

All's fair... in the invasion of his country? He didn't sign up for this shit!

EDIT: Sorry, I jumped to conclusions. It sounds like you didn't mean it like that...

thefartographer ,

"All's fair" is how ghostdoggtv lets people know they're throwing a house party and you don't have to RSVP.

People tend to avoid their parties due to the high number of attempted assassinations

ghostdoggtv ,

Haha, I meant to imply that zelenskyy should consider retaliating in kind.

thefartographer ,

RIP your karma

ghostdoggtv ,

It's little 😘

thefartographer ,

😘

My day just got better

CareHare ,

Nothing about any war is 'fair'

bane_killgrind ,

The fuck is wrong with you

autotldr Bot ,

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Two colonels in the State Guard of Ukraine, which protects top officials, were detained on suspicion of enacting the plan drawn up by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, a statement said.

It quoted the head of the State Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, as saying the plot foresaw an attack before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a fifth term on Tuesday.

Zelenskyy’s movements are kept secret for security reasons, and his visits around the country are publicly announced only after he has left.

Zelenskyy has proved to be a valuable asset for his country as the war against Ukraine’s bigger neighbor grinds on, and as Kyiv’s depleted forces wait for more troops and weapons.

The operation was run from Moscow, it said, providing the names of three alleged Russian spies behind the conspiracy.

The broader plan was to identify the location of senior Ukrainian officials and target them with a rocket attack, followed by drones and missiles.

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