Attempts were planned against Zelensky, Gordon, and Yermak's brother
Head of the SBU V. Malyuk recalled the history when the SBU uncovered conspirators against Zelensky in the State Security Department. He then added that there was another case when an assassination attempt was thwarted in Poland in cooperation with the Internal Security Agency. This is the equivalent of the SBU on Polish territory - the Internal Special Service.
"We carried out an important criminal proceeding together with them. It involved a military pensioner, a Pole, who was recruited decades ago and who sincerely believed in the Soviet idea and nurtured the intention over the years. So his - this 'canned' - was activated," - says Malyuk.
According to him, the agent's task was to physically eliminate President Zelensky at the Rzeszów airport.
"Several options were considered. One was an FPV drone, another was a sniper complex. All this was implemented, and we detained him. The Polish colleagues worked professionally; it was a joint effort," - Malyuk said.
On the assassination attempt on Gordon
"Gordon is specifically triggered by them. The Putin regime considers him the main propagandist of Ukraine. He has a large audience, both in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories," - Malyuk explained the possible reasons for the attempt.
According to him, two networks were involved in the attempt on Gordon. The first was led by a former regional deputy, originally from Poltava region. He is currently imprisoned. It is likely about Vitaliy Hrushevsky, who was previously detained. In September 2024, the SBU neutralized an agent network of an elite FSB unit, coordinated by a former deputy.
Behind Gordon was a deputy who also found assistants for this purpose. The Russians had a plan to blow up Gordon with a homemade explosive device or organize a missile-shahed attack, the SBU reported. According to Malyuk, the assassination attempt on Gordon was being prepared for a very long time.
A car with a video recorder in online mode was parked opposite his office to monitor him.
"They monitored when Dmytro arrived and left. They 'strolled' near his house, and for us, as professionals, it was obvious," - Malyuk said.
According to him, at that time, the ex-deputy was already under the surveillance of the special services, so their attempt to assassinate Gordon was quickly uncovered.
He also mentioned that another group was involved - the "Daghestani ethnonational criminal community," used by the FSB. A Russian agent, who was supposedly wanted in Russia, had been living in Ukraine for a long time and was performing various tasks.
"He was constantly performing tasks for the FSB, doing so very professionally and covertly. In Ukraine, he established relations with the daughter of a former high-ranking MVS official to expand his capabilities," - Malyuk said.
He noted that Russia allocated money for him to open a taxi service for surveillance. He equipped the car with video recorders. This man developed Gordon's movement routes and determined methods and tools for possible assassination. This group was also detained; they are giving testimony. The group leader admitted to collaborating with Russian special services and preparing an assassination attempt on Gordon. For killing Gordon, the FSB promised them a fee of $400,000.
Assassination attempt on Yermak's brother
Andriy Yermak's younger brother, Denys Yermak, currently serves as a sniper in the GUR Foreign Legion. According to Malyuk, he is now working with drones and spends most of his time on the front lines.
The SBU revealed how the Russians planned to kill Denys Yermak: after he returns from the front, "they worked on him with an explosive device."
"The executor is a Kharkiv native, a bold, young, knowledgeable engineer, meaning someone who can professionally make an explosive device," - Malyuk stated. According to him, this man came to Kyiv, rented an apartment. While he was buying all the components of the explosives, the SBU installed video and audio surveillance in the apartment.
At the same time, the surveillance was entrusted to a 14-year-old boy.
"They planned to execute it very boldly. To understand: for blowing up a large SUV, 800 grams of explosives are enough to destroy it completely. For a regular car - 400 grams. And 2.5 kg is enough to blow up in an entrance, with no walls or partitions left," - Malyuk explained.
The SBU states that the executor was intended to be used "in the dark".
"The Russians told the executor: you come, ring the doorbell, they are waiting for you, just pass the parcel... When the agent approached the target and the door was opened, they would immediately organize an explosion. There would be no one alive, neither the one who brought it nor the one behind the door," - Malyuk said.
They planned to kill Denys Yermak before 15:00 on May 15, before the meeting in Istanbul. The criminal group was stopped.
