Ukraine Foils Russian Plot To Assassinate Zelensky

Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said, Illia Novikov reported for the Associated Press (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently met with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. I Photo: Володимир Зеленський Facebook

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. Zelensky said in 2022 there have been at least 10 attempts to assassinate him, and now the war with Russia has stretched into its third year.

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 Zelensky.