The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) announced on Monday that they have detained an alleged informant for Russia in connection to a plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed publicly, hails from the southern Ukrainian region of Mykolaiv, according to the SBU statement.
The SBU revealed that the woman had been gathering intelligence about President Zelensky’s planned visit to Mykolaiv at the end of July. The purpose of this intelligence gathering was to facilitate a Russian airstrike with the intent to kill the president. Fortunately, SBU agents were able to intercept information about the suspect’s subversive activities and implement additional security measures, thwarting the assassination plot.
The SBU caught the woman red-handed as she attempted to pass intelligence to the invaders. Surveillance of her communications also revealed that she had been tasked with identifying the locations of electronic warfare systems and warehouses containing ammunition of the Ukrainian armed forces. It is alleged that she traveled around the district, filming the locations of these crucial military assets.
President Zelensky has faced numerous known attempts on his life since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Notably, Russian special forces were assigned to eliminate the Ukrainian president at the outset of the war. TIME magazine published a profile in April 2022, detailing how Russian troops had parachuted into Kyiv on February 24, attempting to kill or capture Zelensky and his family.
During the conflict, as Ukrainian forces battled Russian troops in Kyiv, the presidential compound was surrounded, and Zelensky was handed rifles and bulletproof vests for himself and his aides. He refused to flee and famously stated, “I need ammo, not a ride.” Despite surviving these intense situations, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak asserted that Zelensky had survived more than a dozen assassination attempts.
In a July interview with CNN, Zelensky acknowledged the constant threat to his life from Russian forces but stressed the importance of staying connected with society and the people of Ukraine. He entrusted his personal security to professionals, allowing him to focus on strategic issues.
The recent detention of the alleged informant underscores the ongoing risks and challenges faced by President Zelensky in his efforts to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and repel the Russian invasion. As the situation continues to evolve, President Zelensky remains resolute in his commitment to stand with his people and lead the country through these turbulent times.
Source: With Agencies