SBU counter-intelligence foiled a contract killing of a well-known civic activist in the Kyiv Region and detained a man whom Russia’s FSB had recruited to prepare the attack.
The SBU press service reported this.
According to investigators, a 19-year-old resident of Mykolayiv was to shoot the activist during his morning walk with his dog in the forest. To prepare the attack, the agent monitored the potential victim’s daily routine and routes.
On the Russian security service’s instructions, he received the coordinates of a cache, collected a pistol with ammunition and a suppressor from it, and was then to spend the night in the forest near the activist’s home and carry out the killing from an ambush.
The SBU uncovered the plan and detained the man while he was preparing to carry out the attack. The special operation was conducted under the personal coordination of the service’s head, Oleksandr Poklad.
Law enforcement officers established that the FSB recruited the suspect after noticing his activity on social media. In particular, he posted messages in support of fascist and Nazi ideology. During searches, officers seized three pistols with suppressors and ammunition, as well as phones containing evidence of co-operation with the Russian security service.
The detainee has been served with a notice of suspicion for high treason under martial law, preparing an intentional contract killing and illegal handling of weapons. He is being held in custody and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
