Ukraine Arrests Hit Squad Of 25 Men Sent To Kill President Zelenskyy
Published
Russia's latest attempt to assassinate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has yet again been thwarted by Ukraine.
A team of 25 assassins, led by Russia's secret service, were arrested by Ukrainian police on the border triangle between Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary, in Uzhgorod, western Ukraine.
Ukrainian news agency UNIAN were told by Kyiv counter-intelligence sources that the men were on their way to Kyiv, accompanied by a Russian secret service agent.
According to Bild, the group had orders to kill Zelenskyy and infiltrate and sabotage other elements of the Ukrainian government.
It also appears that the attempt was tipped off from within the Russian secret service itself, which doomed the team from the start.
"According to Unian, an anti-war faction within the Russian secret service itself tipped off Kyiv to the squad's whereabouts, dooming the team."
- Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) March 27, 2022
Zelenskyy has been seen as the face of the resistance to Ukraine, appearing on camera and in public throughout the last month to condemn the Russian invasion.
However, this has seen him as a key target for Russian invaders, with more than a dozen assassination attempts directed towards the Ukrainian president since the invasion began.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that Zelenskyy had previously been targeted by members of paramilitary organisation Wagner Group, who the Kremlin has long denied any direct involvement.
According to The Times, intelligence reports claimed that the operatives had been given a 24-person 'kill list', which included Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and the presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak.
Boxing champions Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir were also both said to be on the list.
The attack was sabotaged and led to a 36-hour curfew in Kyiv on March 5 so that soldiers could sweep the streets for any of those involved with the Wagner Group organisation.
Russia's military efforts continue to be foiled, with Ukraine capturing one of their most advanced electronic warfare systems.
The Krasukha-4 command module jams low-orbit satellites, drones and missiles, and can reportedly track NATO aircraft.
#Ukraine: We managed to identify this bizarre "container", captured today by the UA forces near #Kyiv.
It is likely to be the command post of one of the most potent Russian EW system - 1RL257 Krasukha-4, used to suppress AWACS radars & radar reconnaissance satellites. pic.twitter.com/1VvKjGoM2p
- :flag_ua: Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) March 22, 2022
Ukrainian forces stumbled across the device near Kyiv, and photos posted online show the large unit covered in branches, in what appears to have been an attempt by Russia to camouflage it.
According to The Telegraph, it will most likely be taken to the US Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in Germany before being flown the States, where it will be examined.
Military veteran Justin Crump said it was a significant find and one of a number of 'goodies that have been recovered on the battlefield'.
