Ukraine’s security service has detained Russian spies planning terror attacks in Kiev on May 9, the day Moscow marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Ukrainian PravdaCiting SBU spokesman Artem Dehtiarenko.
Volodymyr Zelensky and General Yuri SodolPhoto: Office of the President of Ukraine / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia
The Security Service of Ukraine said that Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) was behind the attack.
“The security service of Ukraine was active,” the SBU spokesman says, adding that the perpetrators of the planned terrorist attack “were caught red-handed and arrested.”
“We have also collected evidence that unequivocally confirms Russia’s involvement,” Artem Dehtyarenko said.
The incident comes days after the same SBU arrested two colonels of the Defense and Security Service accused of plotting to assassinate Zelenskiy and other top officials.
The SBU said the killings were a “gift” to Vladimir Putin, who took office in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
According to Kiev, the two colonels were allegedly recruited by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), leaking classified information to Moscow.
The two, the SBU said, were tasked with finding someone close to the presidential guard to take Zelensky hostage and then kill him.
A network of Russian agents also planned to kill Vasili Maliuk, head of the SBU, and Kirilo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR).
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked the head of the State Security Administration (equivalent to the Security and Defense Service).
Zelensky issued a decree dismissing Serhii Rut.
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