The SSU foiled plans for contract killings and detained members of a Russian intelligence cell
The operation was carried out by personnel from military counter-intelligence, the Main Investigation Directorate, special forces from the Security Service’s Centre for Special Operations ‘A’, and staff from the Security Service’s Main Directorate in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
As a result of the special operation, a Russian military intelligence agent-combat group was neutralised and a hitman who offered armed resistance during his arrest was killed. More than ten other members of the group were detained.
The investigation established that the suspects were planning the murders of prominent figures in various regions of Ukraine. Among the potential victims are named Serhiy Sternenko, an adviser to the Minister of Defence and a volunteer, as well as Illia Bohdanov, who has been fighting for Ukraine since 2014.
Members of the group tracked the residential addresses and travel routes of military personnel and public figures, after which they passed this data to the cell’s leader. He turned out to be a forensic expert from Poltava, who had been recruited by Russian intelligence. He collated the gathered information and passed it on to the Russian special services.
The data obtained was passed on to the hitman, including information on the whereabouts and movements of potential victims. According to the investigation, the hitman is a native of the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk Oblast. He underwent training at a Russian military intelligence base and was smuggled into territory controlled by Ukraine.
On the instructions of his handlers, he was to manufacture homemade explosive devices and plant them under vehicles or near the targets’ places of residence. In the event of a failed detonation, he was ordered to shoot the victims.
During searches of the suspects’ premises, firearms, ammunition, voice recorders, computer equipment and CCTV cameras containing evidence of their activities were seized.
Investigators informed the detainees of their suspicion under a number of articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, in particular regarding treason, collaboration, unauthorised dissemination of information about military movements, preparation for a terrorist act and illegal handling of weapons.
The suspects are being held in custody without the right to bail. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The proceedings are being led by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
