Russian Security Service Detains Foreigner in Moscow for Planned Assassination of Defense Ministry Officer

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it has foiled a terrorist attack aimed at a Russian Defense Ministry employee in the Moscow region.

The agency revealed that it detained a foreign national who had been recruited by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the operation.

Investigations led to identifying the foreign citizen, born in 1990, who was arrested in the suburbs of the Russian capital after being tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to eliminate the Russian military officer using a firearm.

The FSB noted that the detainee entered Russian territory in February of this year. Following instructions from his handlers, he retrieved a pistol equipped with a silencer and sixteen rounds of ammunition from a secret cache and conducted reconnaissance on the residence and workplace of the targeted victim.

During interrogation, the suspect admitted to being recruited by Ukrainian security service operatives in a European Union country, where he had fled to escape criminal prosecution in his homeland.

His supervisors promised to assist him in obtaining refugee status to reside legally in the European Union if he succeeded in completing the mission. Authorities are currently considering opening a criminal case against him.

Separately, the Russian Federal Security Service reiterated warnings about ongoing Ukrainian intelligence efforts to identify potential perpetrators of terrorist and sabotage acts through the internet, social media platforms, and instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

The FSB emphasized that all individuals who agree to collaborate with the enemy will be exposed and brought to justice to face appropriate punishment.