In Zaporizhzhya, two men have been detained on suspicion of preparing to kill four soldiers on Russia’s orders.
This was reported by the press offices of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
It is noted that the special operation to expose the Russian agents was carried out under the personal coordination of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Major General Oleksandr Poklad.
Investigators found that Russia’s FSB planned to eliminate Ukrainian soldiers by luring them to what were supposedly “dates” with women. To do this, Russian intelligence officers used fake accounts on dating websites. They were to arrange a separate “meeting” for each Ukrainian soldier.
Then, at the “date” location, FSB hitmen were meant to be waiting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen. Under the enemy’s plan, one agent was to attack the Ukrainian soldiers with a hunting knife, while the other was to film the process on a phone camera for a “report”.
Counter-intelligence uncovered the hostile plan in advance and caught the agents red-handed in the regional centre as they were scouting a location for an ambush. Law enforcement officers detained both men on 10 September 2026, immediately before one of the planned killings.
The FSB’s assignment was being carried out by two recruited local residents aged 18 and 19. They came to the attention of the Russian security service while looking for easy money in Telegram channels.
After being recruited, the suspects first carried out a “test” mission: they tracked a vehicle belonging to Ukrainian defenders and set it on fire. After that, the Russians gave the agents a new task — to carry out a series of contract killings. The suspects began searching for suitable places to attack where it would be easy to organise an ambush. Among the priority locations the perpetrators studied were the outskirts of the city and garage cooperatives.
It has been established that, on Russia’s instructions, the hitmen bought a hunting knife, a change of clothes and rubber gloves. After the first killing, the suspects planned to dispose of these items and then buy a new “set” for further attempts.
During searches, smartphones were seized from the detainees containing evidence of their contacts with the FSB. In addition, officers found bladed weapons, a traumatic pistol with ammunition and a combat grenade.
On the basis of the evidence collected, investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine served the agents with a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons under martial law).
The suspects are being held in custody. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.