According to the announcement, two officers with the rank of colonel were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassination plan. The SBU added that the network worked in coordination with Russian agents and that among the targets were the Ukrainian prime minister and chief of staff.
Ukrainian security officials stated that the information that led to the thwarting of the plot was gathered through wiretapping and interrogations of suspects. Zelensky’s office said that the president of Ukraine is aware of the reports and that his security has been increased.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been fears for the life of Zelensky, who has become the symbol of the Ukrainian resistance. This is not the first time that assassination attempts against the president have been reported, but this is the most significant threat that has been revealed so far according to Ukrainian authorities. The Kremlin has not yet responded to Ukraine’s claims regarding the assassination plan attributed to the Russian security services.