Ukraine says SBU foiled Russian plots to assassinate Zelenskyy, top officials

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s security agency thwarted at least two assassination attempts against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) revealed during a media briefing Monday, claiming Russian intelligence operatives were behind the plots.

“One of the operations ended in the arrest of a colonel and another senior officer of the State Security Directorate. They were recruited by Russia’s FSB, specifically its 5th service,” said Vasyl Malyuk, adding that the assassins were preparing to strike during Zelenskyy’s movement through the Presidential Office compound.

The alleged operatives were not only targeting Zelenskyy but also the SBU chief himself and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.

Malyuk noted that Ukrainian agents had spent nearly two years infiltrating the group with advanced technical surveillance.

A separate attempt was disrupted in Poland in cooperation with its Internal Security Agency, according to Malyuk.

He said the Russian plan involved a Polish military pensioner, described as a long-time Soviet sympathizer, who was allegedly tasked with killing Zelenskyy at Rzeszow airport using either a drone or sniper system.

“Our Polish partners acted professionally. We prevented a catastrophe together,” he added.

In another case, Malyuk said the SBU foiled a plot to kill Denys Yermak, the brother of presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak.

The attack was planned for May 15 in Kyiv, allegedly in an attempt to disrupt peace negotiations scheduled the same day in Istanbul.

According to Malyuk, the would-be assassin was a young engineer from Kharkiv, recruited to plant a 2.5-kilogram improvised explosive device.

The SBU reportedly gained access to his communications and placed surveillance equipment in his Kyiv apartment.

“They planned to detonate the device as soon as Denys Yermak returned home. Thanks to audio control, we knew their entire plan,” Malyuk said.

He claimed the suspect had bought two mobile phones, one linked to the bomb, and had been instructed to hand over the package at the door – a tactic described as “classic undercover use.”

The SBU said all attacks were orchestrated by Russian intelligence and highlighted their growing focus on top Ukrainian figures.

The Russian government has not commented on the accusations.