UKRAINE’S spy agency says it foiled a Russian assassination plot to “kidnap and kill” President Zelensky after Putin’s spies allegedly tried to infiltrate his bodyguards.
The SBU exposed a network of agents it claims were preparing to “eliminate” the Ukrainian leader, as well as other senior political and military figures.
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In an “inauguration gift to Vladimir Putin,” Ukraine announced that it had detained two colonels who were trying to “assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky.”
In a statement posted on Telegram, the SBU wrote: “The network, whose activities were monitored by the FSB from Moscow, included two colonels… who “leaked” secret information from the Russian Federation.”
The suspects, belonging to the State Security Administration of Ukraine (UDO), are suspected of treason.
They face life in prison if convicted.
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The UDO is responsible for providing security to state officials.
The colonels allegedly planned to use FPV drones, loads for portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched anti-tank rocket launchers RPG-7 and MON-90 anti-personnel mines.
Their goal was to find a spy among the presidential guard close to Zelensky, the SBU said.
“The recruited agent had to observe the movements and transmit information.”
They then allegedly planned to launch a missile attack on Zelensky’s safe house and follow this with kamikaze drone strikes.
“After this, another missile was allegedly planned to be launched, including to destroy traces of the use of the drone.”
Apparently, one of the colonels was caught traveling to another region of Ukraine to collect drones and explosives.
And he was heard talking to his FSB ‘curator’.
The SBU also revealed that Russian spies were planning to “liquidate” the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, and the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence wing (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, along with other high-ranking officials.
According to Ukraine’s spy agency, part of the foiled plot, including Budanov’s planned kidnapping, was supposed to occur before Russian Orthodox Easter on May 5.
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Spy chief Malyuk said: “A limited number of people knew about our special operation and I personally monitored its progress,” Malyuk said.
“The terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin before the inauguration, was actually a failure of the Russian special services.
“But we must not forget that the enemy is strong and experienced, he cannot be underestimated.
“We will continue working in advance so that each traitor receives the deserved judicial sentences.”
Moscow’s alleged failure of Russian intelligence comes as Putin was sworn in today as Russian president for the fifth time following his false “victory” in the rigged March elections.
Last month, Poland arrested a man believed to have worked with the Kremlin’s security services to help plan Zelensky’s assassination.
a joint investigationled by Polish and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, found that he “established contacts with the Russian Federation directly involved in the war in Ukraine.”
A statement said: “Its tasks included collecting and providing military intelligence for the Russian Federation with information on the security of Rzeszów-Jasionka airport.”
His intention was to “help Russian special services plan a possible attack” against President Zelensky,” he added.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said at the time: “This case is further proof that Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine and Ukrainians, but also to the entire free world.
“The criminal Kremlin regime constantly tries to undermine European and global security.”
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Previous assassination attempts on Zelensky
SINCE the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky has survived and been the target of several assassination attempts.
The first of these came just weeks after Russia crossed the border, following reports that Vladimir Putin allegedly ordered Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to eliminate Ukrainian leaders.
In early March, Chechen commandos who were sent to assassinate Zelensky were quickly “eliminated” by Ukrainian intelligence.
That same month, the Russian Private Military Company Redut was ordered to infiltrate and eliminate political leaders and the Ukrainian Secret Service by raiding institutions in the kyiv region.
More than a thousand fighters showed up, but up to 90% of them died because the mission quickly failed.
In August 2023 it was reported that another alleged assassination attempt had been stopped.
Ukraine’s security service arrested a woman suspected of collecting information about Zelenskyy’s trip to the Mykolaiv region.
In April 2024, a Pole, Paweł K, was arrested on suspicion of helping Russia plan the assassination of Zelensky at the Polish Rzeszów-Jasionka airport.
Despite conflicting reports about the number of assassination attempts on Zelensky, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak has revealed that there have been “more than a dozen attempts.”