The Counterintelligence Department of the Security Service of Ukraine has thwarted another high-profile assassination plot, ordered by russia’s federal security service to be carried out in Ukraine. As a result of a special operation in Kyiv, an enemy agent who had been tasked with eliminating a russian opposition figure currently heading one of Ukraine’s national civil society organisations has been detained.

The investigation revealed that the hitwoman was to shoot the activist with a combat pistol from an ambush near a sports centre in the capital, where he works as a kickboxing coach.

russia had hoped to kill the opposition figure in this way, as he has been fighting for Ukraine since 2022 – initially in the Kyiv region and then on the Eastern front.

The SSU acted pre-emptively, detaining the suspect near the sports complex while she was conducting reconnaissance to select a firing position for the assassination.

According to the investigation, the FSB’s order was carried out by a woman from the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol who was unemployed and had been recruited by the enemy.

The aggressor state recruited her in exchange for dropping a case on illegal possession of drugs.

The recruited asset underwent training at a local ‘branch’ of the FSB, where she received instruction in secrecy, orienteering, and firearms.

After the ‘course’, the hitwoman travelled to Zhytomyr via Belarus and then arrived in Kyiv.

While in the capital, she regularly changed hotels. Furthermore, when leaving her room, she would mark the door to detect any unauthorised persons present.

She subsequently received from her handler the coordinates of a hiding place in a forest park in the capital, where she collected a pistol and ammunition.

The SSU Counterintelligence officers found the weapon when they searched the suspect’s hotel room. They also seized a smartphone from her, which she had used to contact her FSB handler. The latter’s identity has been established.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of her status as a suspect under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law).

The suspect is in custody without bail and faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in the Zhytomyr region with coordination by the SSU Counterintelligence Department, under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.