Zelensky 'assassination plot foiled' as Ukraine detains two of its own counter

Release time：2024-05-08 11:09:02 Source：International Insight news portal

A plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been 'foiled', according to the Security Service of Ukraine.

Two Ukrainian counterintelligence officers were today announced to have been detained over 'plans of the FSB [Russian security agency] to eliminate the President of Ukraine and other representatives of the top military and political leadership of the state'.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed on Telegram two colonels were implicated in the plot, allegedly 'leaking' information back to Russia.

SBU investigators allegedly uncovered a drawn out plot to closely follow watched persons before targeting a safehouse with a 'rocket attack'.

'Then they were going to attack the people who remained at the affected area with a drone,' the SBU claimed, without providing evidence.

'After that, the Russians planned to target with another missile, including to destroy traces of the use of the drone.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech in Kyiv Ukraine, on April 29, 2024

Ukrainian secret services swoop to arrest suspects accused of plotting an assassination 

The SBU claimed to have foiled the plot in anticipation of an attack over the weekend

The SBU claimed Russia intended to 'eliminate' the head of its own department, Yasyl Malyuk, the head of the State Administration of Ukraine, Kyryll Budanov, and 'other high-ranking officials'.

They claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate Budanov, a key player in Ukrainian Intelligence, 'before Easter'.

READ MORE: Vladimir Putin is sworn in for his fifth term as president at glittering ceremony in front of hand-picked guests including Steven Seagal and Night Wolves biker gang leader The Surgeon 

Ukraine celebrated Easter on Sunday, May 5.

One of the colonels personally handled the supply of FPV drones, RPG-7 rockets and MON-90 anti-personnel mines intended for the attack, the SBU claimed.

Ukrainian Intelligence claimed to have 'gradually' documented the unfolding plot and detained the actors believed to be involved before they could unleash terror.

'A limited number of people knew about our special operation, and I personally monitored its progress,' said the Head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, ostensibly implicated as a target in the attack.

'The terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin before the inauguration, was actually a failure of the Russian special services. 

'But we must not forget - the enemy is strong and experienced, he cannot be underestimated. 

'We will continue to work ahead of time, so that every traitor receives the well-deserved court sentences.'

Last month, a man was arrested in Poland, accused of plotting to help assassination Zelensky with Russian coordination.

Suspect Paweł K was charged with 'reporting his readiness to act for foreign intelligence', according to the prosecutor's office.

Several attempts on the life of the Ukrainian President have been reported since the ground invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In March 2023, a group of foreign citizens were arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia, Polish government officials told the BBC.

Polish security services reportedly broke up the spy network accused of installing secret cameras at the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in order to film transport infrastructure used to deliver aid to Ukraine.

Mikhail Podolyak, presidential adviser to Zelensky, claimed previously that the Ukrainian leader had survived more than a dozen attempts in the first two weeks of the war alone. 

As early as March 2022, Ukrainian Pravda reported that the Ukrainian military had 'destroyed' a Chechen outfit tasked with 'eliminating' Zelensky.

One of the men detained by security services, accused of plotting to kill top officials

One of the colonels personally handled the supply of FPV drones, RPG-7 rockets and MON-90 anti-personnel mines intended for the attack, the SBU claimed

Head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, was among those reportedly targeted in the plot

Volodymyr Zelensky meets with British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron in Kyiv on May 3

Putin was today sworn in for his fifth term as president following a contentious election in March.

The Russian leader was greeted with applause when he entered the hall with more than 2,500 people who, his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, had been invited to the ceremony. 

Senior members of the Russian government, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, lined the red carpet.

Government officials and foreign diplomats in Moscow were invited to the ceremony, including French ambassador Pierre Levy. 

While many Western governments boycotted the event, an anonymous French diplomat confirmed that the French ambassador attended as tensions ratchet up following President Macron's recent comments refusing to rule out putting boots on the ground in Ukraine if pressed.

The appearance came despite reports the French ambassador to Moscow had been summoned on Monday. 

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