Article Author:
Reuters
Kyiv — Ukraine has arrested two men working for Russia's intelligence services. They had planned to kill the Ukrainian defense minister and the head of the military intelligence service, the SBU, Ukraine's internal security agency, said on Monday.
The Ukrainian Security Service said it had thwarted a plan by the Russian military intelligence agency GRU to use a sabotage group to carry out the murders of three of him, including a prominent Ukrainian activist. The agency said in a statement.
Reuters was unable to independently verify his claims.
Moscow and Russia's state media did not immediately respond to Ukraine's statement.
One of the suspects is a resident of the eastern Luhansk region held by Russian-backed separatists, the other a resident of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, They were promised up to $150,000 by Russian handlers for each target killed. SBU said.
A man from the Luhansk region entered Ukraine from Belarus and was detained in the northwestern Ukraine city of Kovel along with Kyiv residents, the statement said.
Russia invaded Ukraine on her February 24th, and the security of the high-ranking officials was very tight. Kyiv's government district is blocked by a checkpoint manned by armed men. Sandbags are piled up at the windows and entrances of government buildings.
The SBU has been in the spotlight in recent weeks after President Volodymyr Zelensky ousted its head and state prosecutor general last month, with dozens of cases of cooperation with Russia by officials of the agency. I am making an offer. (Reporting by Natalia Ginette; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Grant McCool)
