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Ukraine detains two over alleged Zelenskyy assassination plot
Insights from Carnegie Endowment, the Financial Times, and NRK
The News
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it had detained two Ukrainian security officials suspected of plotting to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top figures in the country in a plan coordinated by Russia.
“Counterintelligence and SBU investigators disrupted the FSB’s [Russia’s Security Service] plans to eliminate the President of Ukraine and other representatives of the highest military and political leadership of the state,” the SBU wrote on social media.
Two colonels in the State Guard of Ukraine were detained on suspicion of working with Russia’s Federal Security Service to carry out the plot.
Ukraine claims Zelenskyy has faced numerous threats to his life since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022: That year, he said that there were at least 10 assassination attempts against him, The Associated Press reported.
Last month a Polish citizen was arrested for allegedly helping Russia to plan an attempt to assassinate Zelenskyy, one of a slew of arrests made in Europe in recent weeks that show how deeply Russian interests have penetrated Europe.
SIGNALS
Russia ramps up efforts to discredit Zelenskyy
Russia has ramped up its efforts to discredit Zelenskyy, Yehor Cherniev, a Ukrainian MP and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defence, and Intelligence, said in an interview with Semafor shortly after the assassination plot was unveiled. Indeed, Russian independent media reported Saturday that Zelenskyy had been placed on Russia’s wanted list. “When you are a legitimate president you have immunity, but when [Russia] considers him an illegitimate president, they can change their approach.” Cherniev added that the Kremlin is spreading propaganda suggesting Zelenskyy is using martial law as a way to cling to power after his presidential term expires on May 20. Ukrainian electoral law does not permit holding elections during martial law, and officials have consistently emphasized the dangers of organizing an election in wartime — including that Russia could target voting stations. “I cannot even imagine who could replace him,” said Cherniev.
The Kremlin plots covert attacks across the West
Russia is also ramping up its more clandestine operations across Europe. Several European intelligence agencies have raised the alarm over cyberattacks in recent weeks, while NATO warned of the threat of “malign activities on allied territory.” Norway’s security service said earlier this month that Russian intelligence services may be preparing sabotage operations aimed at energy infrastructure, while both Sweden and the Czech Republic are investigating an apparent effort to sabotage their railways, the Financial Times reported. In the UK, two men were charged in late April for starting a fire at a warehouse that was storing aid to Ukraine, and prosecutors accused them of working for Russia.
