The Security Service and the National Police, under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor’s Office, disrupted a brazen operation of russian intelligence services in Odesa and saved the life of the head of a local civil law enforcement formation.

His assassination was ordered by the russian special service, which wanted to carry out a ‘demonstrative’ elimination of a figure who publicly supported mobilization. In this way, the aggressor wanted to sow panic and destabilize the situation in the region.

It was also established that after successful execution of the murder, the enemy planned to order assassinations of other activists with a public pro-Ukrainian position.

However, the Ukrainian law enforcement carried out a multi-stage operation and simulated the murder to find and detain an enemy agent.

He turned out to be a 43-year-old Ukrainian citizen who came to the attention of russian intelligence in 2017 when he worked in the security unit of one of the russian oligarchic clans. After the full-scale invasion, the contact with him was resumed.

This time, his task was to find a killer who could carry out a contract killing for USD 80,000.

In order to prevent a serious crime and obtain evidence against the suspect, the SSU ‘led’ a potential ‘executor’ of the murder to the asset. The fake ‘killer’ acted under the law enforcement’s control: he purchased a gun with ammunition, ‘completed’ the task and filmed the victim’s ‘dead body’ on his phone.

After the simulation, the ‘killer’ transmitted confirming photo and video files from the scene to the enemy agent.

The law enforcement agencies detained the traitor when he was about to send the ‘evidence’ of the killing to his russian handler.

During the detention in a public place, the suspect was carrying an F-1 combat grenade, the use of which could have led to human casualties, and a mobile phone with evidence of communication with the russian intelligence services.

He was served a notice of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 15.2, 115.2 (completed attempted murder for hire);
• 263.1 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The suspect’s actions may be additionally qualified under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law). He is in custody and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.