As part of systematic efforts to counter russia’s intelligence services and prevent the destabilisation of Ukraine, the Counterintelligence Department of the Security Service of Ukraine prevented the assassination of a prominent civil society activist in the Kyiv region. Following pre-emptive operations, an FSB hitman was arrested. This special operation was personally coordinated by the SSU Acting Head, Major-General Oleksandr Poklad.

The investigation revealed that the suspect had planned to shoot the activist while he was walking his dog in the woods one morning.

To this end, the agent had spent a long time monitoring the potential victim’s daily routine and routes. The FSB also sent him the coordinates for a cache, where he collected a pistol, ammunition, and a silencer.

Following instructions from russia’s federal security service, the perpetrator was to spend the night in the woods near the public figure’s home and kill him with several shots from an ambush.

However, the SSU foiled the plot in time, detaining the hitman whilst he was preparing for the assassination.

According to the investigation, the FSB’s order was carried out by a 19-year-old resident of Mykolaiv who had been recruited by the enemy. He came to their attention due to his activity on social media: he posted messages in support of fascist and nazi ideology.

After the recruitment, the aggressor state deployed the agent to the Ukrainian capital to carry out a high-profile assassination.

During searches, three silenced pistols and ammunition were seized from the detainee, as well as smartphones containing evidence of his work for the FSB.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 111.2 (high treason, committed under martial law);
• 14.1, 115.2 (preparation for premeditated murder);
• 263.1 (unlawful handling of weapons, ammunition, or explosive substances).

The suspect is in custody and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in the Mykolaiv region and coordinated by the SSU Counterintelligence Department, under the procedural supervision of the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.