Two Ukrainian colonels have been arrested for allegedly colluding with Russian intelligence to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "gift" to Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian authorities have apprehended two high-ranking Ukrainian military officers, Colonel Andrei Gun and Colonel Derkach, for allegedly collaborating with Russian intelligence to orchestrate the assassination of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Security officials claim that the plot was hatched by the 5th department of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) as a "gift" for Putin's inauguration. The FSB, they allege, was searching for conspirators within Zelenskyy's protective detail who could seize and kill the president.
Prior to their arrest, the colonels provided intelligence to the FSB regarding Zelenskyy's movements and presidential guard. The FSB handlers offered a monetary incentive of $50,000 to $80,000 for their cooperation.
Audio recordings released by Ukrainian intelligence reveal discussions between the colonels and their FSB counterparts about the weapons and tactics to be employed in the plot. The conspirators planned to use a drone, mines, RPG rockets, and anti-tank rockets.
The assassination attempt was timed to coincide with Putin's recent inauguration. However, the operation was thwarted by Ukrainian Secret Service (SBU) agents who detained the colonels during a planned weapons retrieval mission.
SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk stated that only a select group of individuals were aware of the operation to apprehend the colonels. He described the plot as a "failure of the Russian special services" but emphasized the enemy's strength and experience.
Malyuk assured that Ukraine would continue to anticipate and thwart any threats to national security, ensuring that those responsible for treason would be prosecuted.
Western leaders, including those from the United States and the European Union, boycotted Putin's inauguration ceremony, further straining diplomatic relations between Russia and the West.
