Ukraine war: Kyiv says it foiled Russian plans to assassinate Zelensky, denying Putin a ‘gift’ for his inauguration

Ukrainian intelligence operatives have thwarted a Russian scheme to eliminate President Volodymyr Zelensky and high-ranking military and political figures, according to Ukraine's state security service. The plan, orchestrated by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), involved the recruitment of two colonels from the State Guard of Ukraine, tasked with safeguarding top officials. These individuals were allegedly enlisted prior to Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The plot, designed to coincide with Russian President Vladimir Putin's fifth-term inauguration, aimed to execute a terrorist attack, intended as a gift to Putin. However, Ukrainian authorities declared it a failure, attributing it to the incompetence of Russian special services. The network, managed by the FSB from Moscow, allegedly included the two compromised colonels leaking classified information to Russia.

This is not the first instance of Ukrainian claims regarding Russian attempts on Zelensky's life. The president previously disclosed at least ten assassination attempts amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. Moreover, recent revelations from Polish prosecutors implicated a Polish individual in an alleged espionage plot, intending to assist Russian military intelligence in targeting Zelensky.

According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian intelligence agents sought collaboration with members of Zelensky's security detail, aiming to kidnap and subsequently assassinate the president. The operation, orchestrated from Moscow, allegedly involved three identified Russian spies. The broader scheme encompassed identifying senior Ukrainian officials' whereabouts and subjecting them to rocket attacks, followed by drone and missile strikes.

The apprehended Ukrainian colonels face charges of treason, carrying a potential life sentence. Additionally, Ukrainian security services disclosed a previous arrest related to a plot aimed at gathering intelligence on Zelensky's movements outside Kyiv, further highlighting ongoing security concerns surrounding the Ukrainian leader.