According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the two men were colonels in the Ukrainian state guard service. They were recruited by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and leaked confidential information to Moscow.
“One of the tasks of the FSB’s secret service network was to search, among the military personnel close to the president’s protection, for those who could take him hostage and subsequently assassinate him,” explains the SBU report.
In addition to President Zelensky, the SBU claims that Russia’s targets also included the head of the Security Service, Vasily Maliuk, and the head of the Ministry of Defense’s secret services, Kirilo Budanov, who was supposed to be killed before Orthodox Easter, this year celebrated on March 31st.
According to the SBU, Zelensky’s murder would be a “gift” for Vladimir Putin, who this Tuesday took office for a fifth term as president of Russia.
“The terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin before taking office, was in fact 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, Vasili Maliuk.
Ukraine has reported several assassination attempts against President Zelensky, senior officials and family members since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 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 being involved in a Russian plot to kill the Ukrainian president was detained in Poland.
Russia has also been repeatedly accused of poisoning Kremlin opponents at home and abroad, but it has repeatedly denied the allegations.
w/agencies
Tags: Ukraine security officials planned assassinate Zelensky arrested
