They wanted a "gift" for May 9: the SBU thwarted an assassination attempt on a high-ranking officer of the Ukrainian Navy in Odesa

Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine prevented a high-profile terrorist attack in Odesa. Law enforcement detained an agent of the Russian Federation who was preparing an assassination attempt on a senior official of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, Russian special services planned to carry out the killing specifically before May 9, to use it for the Kremlin’s information campaign ahead of the so-called “Victory Day”.

The killer was detained thanks to the work of counterintelligence and a report from a concerned citizen who contacted the SBU’s “hotline” about the suspicious behavior of an unknown man.

The investigation established that the perpetrator planned to set up an ambush near the Ukrainian officer’s home and shoot him with an assault rifle as the serviceman drove out of the yard in his car.

The special operation to detain him was carried out on May 8 by counterintelligence officers and fighters of the SBU’s Alpha Special Operations Center.

According to case materials, the detainee is a repeat offender from Donetsk region who had previously been convicted of intentional homicide. He came to the attention of Russian special services while looking for “easy earnings” in “Telegram” channels.

After recruitment, the agent arrived in Odesa, where he rented an apartment to prepare the assassination. He monitored the Ukrainian serviceman’s place of residence, studied the area and identified points for the attack.

Later the Russian handler gave him the coordinates of caches where an AK-74 assault rifle and two loaded magazines with ammunition were hidden. To conceal the weapon while moving around the city, the killer used a bag with a double bottom.

During searches, authorities seized an assault rifle, ammunition and a mobile phone through which he communicated with the Russian handler.

Investigators notified the suspect of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — high treason in conditions of martial law, as well as under Part 3 of Article 15 and Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — an attempted commission of a terrorist act.

The offender is currently in custody. He faces life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The SBU urged Ukrainians to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, objects or attempts at recruitment via social networks and messengers.

Previously, we wrote:

• The bicycle didn’t help: the “tourist” killer failed the Russian handlers’ special assignment
• Online recruitment ended in handcuffs: a 21-year-old terrorist was detained in Bucha
• Explosives under the car’s undercarriage: in Odesa a man was injured during a terrorist attack – the perpetrator was caught within a day
• Deadly “series”: investigators in Mykolaiv are pursuing the case of an agent of the Russian Federation who attempted to assassinate a high-ranking servicemember
• The plot was prepared via Mykolaiv region: SBU detained an FSB hitman