Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Thursday the arrests of four individuals accused of plotting to assassinate senior Russian military officers, alleging the scheme was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence. The development follows the recent high-profile killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, an attack claimed by Ukraine that underscored the increasingly bold reach of the conflict into Russian territory.
The FSB, a successor to the Soviet-era KGB, stated that the suspects were apprehended as part of an investigation into two separate assassination attempts. According to the agency, one plan involved using a remotely controlled car bomb, while another relied on an explosive device concealed in an envelope. The FSB has not disclosed the identities of the military officers targeted or the suspects arrested.
Video footage released by the FSB depicted the arrests and interrogations of the suspects, though no additional details were provided about their backgrounds. Russian news agencies reported that all four detainees are Russian nationals.
The arrests come just days after the assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia's Radiation, Biological, and Chemical Protection Forces. Kirillov, 54, was killed on December 17 by a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his Moscow apartment building. The explosion also claimed the life of Kirillov's assistant.
Kirillov's role as the leader of specialized troops tasked with protecting Russian military operations from nuclear, chemical, and biological threats made him a significant figure within the country's defense establishment. His death marked a notable escalation in the ongoing conflict, with Ukraine claiming responsibility for the attack, further heightening tensions.
In the wake of Kirillov's assassination, the FSB arrested a suspect described as a citizen of Uzbekistan. According to the agency, the individual confessed to being recruited by Ukrainian special services to carry out the attack.
Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly addressed Kirillov's killing, describing it as a "major blunder" by the nation's security agencies. Speaking to senior officials, Putin emphasized the need for the FSB and other intelligence bodies to enhance their capabilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This latest revelation of alleged assassination plots underscores the evolving nature of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has extended beyond the battlefield and into high-profile, targeted attacks. The Kremlin has accused Ukrainian intelligence of coordinating operations aimed at destabilizing Russian security, while Kyiv has largely refrained from commenting on such allegations.
The killing of Kirillov has drawn comparisons to earlier incidents, including a car bombing that killed pro-Kremlin commentator Daria Dugina in 2022, which Russia also attributed to Ukrainian operatives.
