According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), both were colonels in the Ukrainian State Guard Service. They were recruited by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and leaked classified information to Moscow.
“One of the tasks of the secret service network of the FSB is to search among the military personnel close to the protection of the president, who could take him hostage and then assassinate him,” the SBU statement explained.
In addition to President Zelensky, the SBU says Russia’s targets include the head of the Security Service, Vasily Maliuk, and the head of the Ministry of Defense’s secret services, Kirilo Budanov, who were allegedly killed before Orthodox Easter this year. Celebrated on 31st March.
According to the SBU, Zelensky’s killing was a “gift” to Vladimir Putin, who was sworn in for a fifth term as Russia’s president this Tuesday.
“The terrorist attack that was supposed to be a gift to Putin before taking office was actually a failure of the Russian special services. But we must not forget that the enemy is strong and experienced and cannot be underestimated,” warned the head of the SBU, Vasily Maliuk.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine has announced several assassination attempts against President Zelensky, senior officials and family members. Last fall, the Ukrainian leader said his services had thwarted at least five Russian plots to assassinate him.
The most recent case occurred last April, when a man suspected of involvement in a Russian plot to kill Ukraine’s president was detained in Poland.
Russia has repeatedly been accused of poisoning Kremlin dissidents at home and abroad, but it has repeatedly denied the allegations.
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