Russia Says It Foiled Assassination Attempt on Senior Official, Blames Ukrainian Intelligence

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced today that it has foiled an assassination attempt targeting a high-ranking state official, without disclosing the official’s identity. The agency accused Ukrainian intelligence of planning the operation.

According to the FSB’s statement, the attack was to be carried out at Troyekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow using an explosive device hidden inside a surveillance camera placed in a flower pot. The plot reportedly involved the recruitment of four individuals, including a migrant from Central Asia.

Russia’s TASS news agency cited security sources saying that two Russian nationals (a married couple) and a Central Asian citizen were detained on suspicion of participating in the preparations. The sources added that Ukrainian intelligence had offered one of the detainee’s payments in the form of narcotics in exchange for involvement in the operation.

The FSB also reported seizing communication devices containing exchanges between the suspects and a member of Ukrainian intelligence, asserting that Kyiv is planning similar attacks in multiple Russian regions.