The SSU Counterintelligence and the National Police have foiled a contract killing of a Hero of Ukraine – a major general of the Defence Forces. As a result of a joint operation in the Zhytomyr region, two enemy agents who were planning the assassination have been detained.

As the investigation revealed, the suspects conducted reconnaissance near the officer’s home and ‘coordinated’ the plan for the assassination with the russian intelligence.

They were expecting the geolocation coordinates from their russian handler for a cache where they were to retrieve firearms to ambush the Ukrainian general near his home.

The SSU and National Police acted preemptively and detained both hitmen while they were preparing for the attack.

According to the investigation, the task of the aggressor state was carried out by two drug addicts from Korostyshev who had been recruited by the enemy. They were spotted by russians on Telegram channels where they were looking for ‘easy money’.

After the recruitment, the agents were given ‘test tasks’. As has been established, both suspects are involved in at least two murders in the northern region of Ukraine.

Smartphones containing evidence of their contacts with the russian intelligence services and preparations for the attack on the military officer were seized during the search.

The detainees have been notified of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 111.2 – high treason, committed under martial law;
• 115 (subparagraphs 6 and 12 of part 2) – intentional murder committed for mercenary motives, by a group, by prior conspiracy.

The suspects are in custody. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Zhytomyr region in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Zhytomyr Region Prosecutor’s Office.