Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced Thursday the arrest of four individuals accused of plotting to assassinate senior military officers on orders from Ukraine, following last week’s killing of a top Russian general.
The FSB, Russia’s main intelligence agency, revealed in a statement carried by state news agencies that the suspects were preparing to target high-ranking Defense Ministry officials using explosive devices. One plot allegedly involved a car bomb, while another aimed to use an envelope rigged with explosives. The agency did not disclose the identities of the officers targeted.
The suspects, all Russian citizens, were detained as part of an investigation into the alleged assassination plans. The FSB released footage of their arrest and interrogation but withheld their names.
The announcement follows the December 17 assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Radiation, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces. Kirillov was killed by an explosive device concealed on an electric scooter outside his Moscow residence. His assistant also died in the attack, which Ukraine has claimed responsibility for.
According to the FSB, one suspect arrested in connection with Kirillov’s killing is a citizen of Uzbekistan. Authorities allege he was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services to carry out the attack.
Lt. Gen. Kirillov, 54, played a key role in safeguarding Russian forces from nuclear, chemical, and biological threats. His death marks a significant escalation in the conflict, bringing the war’s violence directly to Moscow’s streets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the assassination as a “serious failure” by the country’s security agencies. He called for improved counter-intelligence measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The arrests underscore the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as Moscow continues to accuse Kyiv of extending its operations into Russian territory.
AP
