Ukrainian and Moldovan law enforcement agencies uncovered an operational intelligence group that, according to investigators, Russian intelligence recruited to plan assassinations of Ukrainian public figures. Authorities carried out the operation across Ukraine and Moldova on February 19.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reported the operation. And Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko provided additional details.
Details
Investigators say Russian intelligence recruited Moldovan citizens and sent them to Ukraine to gather information on potential targets. The operatives identified home and work addresses, movement routes, and possible methods for committing crimes. They then awaited instructions from a Russian-linked handler.
Law enforcement identified several potential targets, including a well-known Ukrainian journalist, the head of a state strategic enterprise, military personnel from the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), including fighters from the Foreign Legion and Special Operations Forces, and a pro-Ukraine activist originally from Russia. Prosecutor General Kravchenko noted that one target included HUR Strategic Communications officer Andriy Yusov.
Investigators traced the group’s organizer to a 34-year-old Moldovan national who previously served a sentence in Russia and was allegedly recruited there. After returning to Moldova, he formed a hierarchical network and recruited young associates, mostly under 25. Police report that members received promises of hundreds of thousands of dollars in rewards, including $100,000 for assassinating a HUR officer.
During the “Enigma 2.0” operation, authorities conducted over 20 searches in Kyiv and Odesa and detained seven people. Moldova arrested three more, including the organizer. Officials charged all suspects and are preparing a motion for pretrial detention. Europol and Interpol coordinated the operation.
Context
Ukrainian law enforcement regularly uncovers intelligence networks suspected of working for Russia, including plots involving sabotage and terrorism.
At the end of January, the Security Service of Ukraine detained several FSB agents who planned attacks on military personnel, sabotages at infrastructure facilities, and coordinated Russian shelling across different regions of Ukraine.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that on February 16–17, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian targets on Russian territory and in temporarily occupied areas. Attacks targeted a Ka-27 helicopter, drone command posts, and an oil terminal.
