Assassination Attempts on Ukraine's Defense Minister and Intelligence Chief Prevented

The Security Service of Ukraine has arrested hired assassins who planned to murder Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Chief of Military Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov. This was reported on Monday, August 8, on the website of Ukraine's intelligence agency.

The report, referenced by Ukrainian media, indicates that a series of murders commissioned against representatives of Ukraine's high military-political leadership, as well as public figures, has been thwarted. During a multi-stage operation, a sabotage-reconnaissance group of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate was neutralized.

The coordinators promised the assassins between $100,000 and $150,000 for each murder, according to the report. The group was formed by regular personnel of the Russian military intelligence. Included in the group was a resident of Luhansk, who had previously actively participated in battles against Ukrainian forces while serving in the so-called ‘LPR’.

At the direction of a coordinator from Moscow, he sought an assassin using his connections in criminal circles for the ordered murders. In response to his offer, a resident of Kyiv agreed to kill a military officer for $5,000 as a trial assignment, claiming he was involved in the reprisals against prisoners of war, according to Russian sources.

Efforts are underway to identify the coordinators who are based in Russia.