The Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the National Police, has foiled a series of planned contract killings in Zaporizhzhia. As a result of pre-emptive efforts, two FSB agents were detained while preparing to assassinate four servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The operation to expose and detain the enemy assets was personally coordinated by the SSU Acting Head Major General Oleksandr Poklad.

According to the investigation, russia’s federal security service planned to eliminate the Ukrainian servicemen by luring them into ambushes under the pretext of dates with women. The FSB created fake profiles on dating websites and used them to arrange separate meetings with the targeted servicemen.

The FSB assets were then to ambush the Ukrainian soldiers at the meeting locations. Under the enemy’s plan, one of the recruited agents was to attack the servicemen with a hunting knife, while the second was to record the assault on a mobile phone as a ‘report’ for his russian handlers.

The SSU Counterintelligence thwarted the plot before the attacks could be carried out. The two agents were detained ‘red-handed’ in Zaporizhzhia while scouting potential locations for the planned ambushes.

The investigation established that the FSB had recruited two local residents, aged 18 and 19. They came to russia’s attention while searching for ‘easy money’ on Telegram channels.

After the recruitment, the agents were initially assigned a test task: to locate a vehicle belonging to Ukrainian defenders and set it on fire.

Following the successful completion of such an assignment, the russian handlers instructed them to carry out a series of contract killings. The suspects began identifying locations suitable for the attacks, including the city’s outskirts and garage cooperatives.

Acting on the FSB’s instructions, the perpetrators purchased a hunting knife, a change of clothes and rubber gloves. After the first killing, they planned to dispose of these items and acquire a new set of equipment for subsequent assassinations.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes, investigators seized smartphones containing evidence of their communications with the FSB. The SSU also found bladed weapons, a non-lethal pistol with ammunition and a combat grenade.

Based on the evidence collected, SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion under Articles 28.2, 111.2 of the CCU – high treason, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy, under martial law.

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

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