Officers arrested for plotting to kill Zelensky, says Ukrainian secret service

Ukraine's security service, the SBU, detained two security officers on Monday suspected of preparing an attack on president Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials at the behest of Moscow. The Ukrainian government announced this on Tuesday.

The SBU "dismantled a network of agents" of Russia's FSB security service who were "preparing an attack on the Ukrainian president", a statement says. One of the aims was to recruit military personnel close to Zelensky's security service to "take him hostage and kill him".

High-ranking officials

Other "high-ranking officials" from military and political circles were also targeted, including Kyrylo Budanov, the head of military intelligence, the Ukrainian services said.

Two "colonels" working for the Ukrainian state service, who were responsible for the security of high-ranking officials, were arrested. One of the members of the alleged network had access to drones and explosives, the SBU said. The security service has released evidence to support its claims, including pictures of weapons and intercepted phone calls.

In late 2023, Zelensky said at least five assassination plots had been planned against him since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But this is the first time so much evidence has been made public.

^{© PHOTO: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP}