Attempted assassination of Zelenskyy: two men from Zakarpattia recruited by the FSB to stand trial
The date of the court hearing was announced by journalist Vitaliy Glagola.
In the case concerning the plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, two residents of Zakarpattia – Vasyl Kost and Kyrylo Matiuk – are standing trial.
According to journalist Vitaliy Hlahola, the court hearing in the case is scheduled for 19 May.
According to the investigation, the group was organised by Russian citizen Oleksandr Churakov. Law enforcement officials claim that he was carrying out tasks for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and, in 2022, organised preparations for an assassination attempt on the President of Ukraine and the seizure of state power.
In August 2022, “Sudovyi Reporter” reported that SBU investigators in Zakarpattia Oblast suspected Churakov of preparing an attempt on the life of the President of Ukraine and of conspiring to violently change the constitutional order and seize state power. According to the publication, Churakov is a Russian citizen born in 1968, a native of the Novgorod region, registered in the Leningrad region.
What the suspects are accused of
According to the investigation, Churakov, Kost, Matiuk and other unidentified individuals organised a criminal group to commit crimes against the foundations of Ukraine’s national security.
Churakov was assigned the role of organiser. He was to initiate and coordinate the group’s actions, finance its activities, ensure the safety of its members, and maintain contact with representatives of the FSB of the Russian Federation and the Russian armed forces.
Investigators consider Kirill Matiuk to be a co-organiser. According to law enforcement officials, he was to finance the group, coordinate the actions of its members, maintain contact with Churakov and representatives of the Russian Federation, and ensure the group’s safety.
Vasyl Kosty was assigned the role of an operative. According to the investigation, he was to seek out and recruit other accomplices, purchase weapons and ammunition, and provide the group with transport.
The plan under the guise of the Uzhhorod TrO
According to the investigation, between 10 February and 21 March 2022, whilst in Ukraine, the group members discussed and coordinated a plan to recruit 30–40 former military personnel.
They were also to purchase weapons, ammunition and transport.
After that, according to the investigation, the group was to travel to Kyiv under the guise of military personnel from one of the territorial defence units based in Uzhhorod.
In the capital, according to law enforcement, the recruited individuals were to seize state power with the support of the Russian armed forces, overthrow the constitutional order – in particular by attempting to assassinate the President of Ukraine – and await further instructions from the FSB.
The indictment also noted that between 27 February and 21 March 2022, Churakov received information via Matiuk regarding the exact whereabouts of the President of Ukraine at various times.
According to the investigation, Matyuk sought out the means to commit the crime and purchased weapons, including Kalashnikov assault rifles, Dragunov sniper rifles and ammunition.
When the Transcarpathians were detained
According to Glagola, the two men from Zakarpattia were detained on 21 March whilst purchasing weapons.
Oleksandr Churakov has been placed on the wanted list.
The suspects, according to the journalist, are accused of treason.
Open sources also reported that the case file concerning the Russian organiser may have been separated into a separate proceeding, as he is wanted by the authorities. However, the official text of the current indictment is not included in the materials provided, so the final list of charges must be verified against the case file in court.
Follow us on Telegram
